News
Watford school included in ‘sensitive subject’ pilot
Watford Girls Grammar School and Queens’ in Bushey are two of the 13 Hertfordshire schools involved in a pilot scheme to teach pupils about the sensitive subject of domestic abuse and positive relationships.
Hertfordshire County Council and its partners launched a thought-provoking DVD and teaching pack, called Dark Side of the Moon, on Wednesday 17 June, when actors from Outloud Productions gave a dramatic performance (pictured) of events in an abusive household.
Funded by Hertfordshire County Council’s Crime and Drugs Strategy Unit, the 30-minute DVD is aimed at Year 9 pupils.
Following the traumatic scenes, discussion questions are posed to start classroom debate. Victim Support volunteers will be supporting teaching staff during the pilot scheme.
Some 80 people attended the launch at the council’s Stevenage campus, including representatives from all 13 schools, Victim Support, the high sheriff of Hertfordshire Janie Wentworth-Stanley and several Hertfordshire county councillors.
Councillor Keith Emsall, executive member for community safety and culture, said: “One in four women and one in six men will suffer some kind of domestic abuse in their lifetime, and in 90 per cent of cases, children and young people witness or hear what is happening.
“We want to raise awareness of domestic abuse among young people in the hope of preventing them from becoming victims or perpetrators and also to support anyone who is living or has lived with domestic abuse,” added Cllr Emsall.
Readers can speak in confidence to a trained adviser on matters related to this story by calling the Hertfordshire Domestic Violence/Abuse Line on 08 088 088 088 (Monday to Friday 10am - 8pm). This number will not show up on your telephone bill.
Post a Comment on this News Article.