A TEENAGER abused by her dad has bravely spoken out as a service helping children affected by domestic abuse and drug and alcohol misuse has launched in Dorset.

The Children’s Society’s Reveal (Reducing Violence Through Education and Learning) service, funded by a Department for Education grant of nearly £375,000, will also provide training for up to 150 professionals who work with young people.

It comes as figures show that domestic abuse and drug and alcohol misuse were factors in a growing number of referrals assessed by children’s social services in Dorset.

In 2015-16 domestic violence was identified as a factor in 1,084 referrals assessed by children’s social services in Dorset according to the Office for National Statistics. That compared to 923 the previous year, although there was a sharp rise in the total number of cases referred from 2,015 to 2,632. Alcohol misuse was identified in 465 cases, up from 407 in 2015/16, while drug misuse was pinpointed in 404 referrals, up from 324.

The number of domestic abuse incidents recorded by Dorset Police rose from 5,946 to 9,362 between March 2008 and March 2015. This increase of nearly 60 per cent compares with a national rise of 43 per cent which the Office for National Statistics attributes mainly to changes in record-keeping by police forces

Katie Chantler, Reveal practice manager at The Children’s Society’s WAVES programme, said: “The children and young people we support may themselves have been victims of domestic abuse or have begun using drugs or alcohol, or it may be that they have been affected by parents or family members struggling with these issues.

“Domestic abuse and substance misuse are often connected and can have a major impact upon children’s physical and emotional health.

“They can be linked to issues including children suffering from mental health problems, self-harming, falling foul of the law and going missing from home with all the risks that poses, including child sexual exploitation.

“This vital funding enables us to work with children and young people and their families to ensure they get the support they need to tackle the causes and symptoms of domestic abuse and drug and alcohol misuse.”

Reveal will build on the success of existing support for children and families affected by domestic abuse provided by sister service Pacific WAVES which operates in Weymouth and Portland. If successful the approach could be replicated across the country.

For information about referrals to the project, call 01305 768768 or email Katherine.chantler@childrenssociety.org.uk

Case study

*Claire, 16, received support from The Children’s Society’s Pacific WAVES service after she and her mum were physically and emotionally abused by her dad.

“Most of it was him calling me names, punching and hitting me, and pulling my hair, and he did strangle me,” she said.

“I also heard a lot of what was happening to my mum and the arguments while I was in my bedroom.

“It was very upsetting but I didn’t want to tell anyone because I was scared what he would do.

“I knew it wasn’t normal because people at school would talk about their dads and it sounded very different.

“But I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it so I would bottle it up. I wasn’t allowed to go out so I didn’t have many friends.”

“I got through it but it affected my confidence and there was a lot going on in my head.”

Claire’s mum took the brave decision to leave the family home and the pair received support to move into a refuge.

It was then that Claire began attending weekly group sessions at Pacific WAVES with other young people who had been through a similar ordeal.

“It made me realise there were people who could help me and understood what I had been through,” she said.

“I also met other young people who had been through what I had and I wasn’t alone.

“We played a few games and could talk about what had happened but we didn’t have to speak about anything we didn’t want to.

“Being supported by The Children’s Society was a good experience. I’m now a lot more confident, doing well at school and looking forward to the future.

“It’s really important this kind of help is out there and I’m really pleased to hear this new service will mean The Children’s Society can help more young people and families in Dorset who are going through what I did.”