Students In Wyre Forest Say No To Domestic Abuse

These Hands Are Not For HurtingAlmost 1,200 students in North Worcestershire have made a pledge not to allow domestic abuse to become part of their life.

Community Support Officer Vanessa Halford has been visiting high schools in Wyre Forest and Hagley over the last fortnight asking students to make the pledge, "These Hands Are Not For Hurting".

Students were pledging that they would not be part of the small minority who commit domestic abuse. They made the pledge by drawing around their hands on pledge scrolls and signing it. 

The pledge is part of an initiative to raise awareness about domestic abuse and tied in with the West Mercia Police domestic abuse campaign and the White Ribbon Campaign 16 days of action. The event was supported by the ContinU Trust, Barnardo's and Homebase.

Students were able to find out more about what domestic abuse is so that they understand if it happens to them. Details were also given out of who to report it to and who to go to for help.

The campaign ended on Friday, 9 December, after CSO Halford visited Baxter College, King Charles Upper and Lower Schools, Stourport High, Bewdley High, Hagley RC School, Wolverley High, Wyre Forest Special School and Lea Street PRU.

Information and leaflets were also available from the Home Office about teenagers' relationships along with posters from Women's Aid, The Hide Out and ChildLine.

CSO Halford said: "It was great to see so many students offering to make the pledge.  I hope that now so many more young people in Wyre Forest understand domestic abuse they will not become new victims of the crime, and for those that are suffering they will now seek help.

Photographs of the scrolls are available at www.facebook.com/wyreforestyouth  Also available on the site are details of other agencies that can offer support to young people who are at risk.

Issued: Tuesday, 20 December 2011