Summer Teenage Relationship Abuse Campaign 2010

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and abuse, the following links will take you to pages where you can find help.

Help and support for victims and survivors
Support services for male and female victims
Help and support for young people
Help and support for children
Help and support for parents

Bristol Domestic Abuse Helpline is a 24-hour, confidential, free helpline: 0800 6949 999.

NHS Bristol is leading a campaign over the summer, focusing on abuse within teenage relationships, which is now being identified as a major public health issue.

This campaign is being run in partnership with Safer Bristol and Bristol Domestic Abuse Forum

Why are we focussing on teenage relationships?
Teen abuse resource pack
Awareness raising events
Get involved

Why are we focusing on teenage relationships?

Domestic violence and abuse happens in teenage relationships as well as in long term adult relationships.

1 in 3 teenagers believe it is acceptable to be abusive to a partner.

The status associated with being in a relationship, peer pressure and a sense of belonging to a boyfriend/girlfriend often increase the risk of abuse and make ending a relationship harder as a teenager.

There are also added difficulties for teenagers in telling people about abuse including:

• Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is felt to be an adult issue and so abuse within teenage relationships is often minimised.
• Teenagers are inexperienced in dating relationships and have little to compare their relationships with.
• Although sometimes short term, teenage relationships are often intense
• Teenagers may be unable to avoid the abuser as they may go to the same school, college or clubs.
• Teenagers want independence and may keep relationships secret from parents
• Media representation and sexualisation of children may influence teenagers' understanding of relationships, reinforcing the belief that control and dominance within a relationship is normal or even romantic and desirable.

Teen Abuse Resource Pack

As part of the campaign, a Teen Abuse Resource Pack was launched in June 2010.

It includes a wide range of resources on teen abuse for young people, parents, youth workers and teachers and information about where to get support. There are also a number of activities including lesson plans and games to engage individuals around the issue.

The resource pack (in five parts for ease and speed of download) is available to download from these links:

Part One: Introduction (pdf)
Part Two: Activities (pdf)
Part Three: Information (pdf)
Part Four(a): Flyers (pdf)
Part Four(b): Posters (part 1) (pdf)
Part Four(b): Posters (part 2) (pdf)

Awareness raising events

Download details of all events

Campaign Launch: Bristol Harbourside Festival (31st July and 1st August 2010)

We are also holding awareness raising events across Bristol during August in partnership with the Avon Youth Bus, as well as activities at future events including:

• Southmead festival on Saturday 17^th July
• The Bristol Islamic Cultural Fair on Sunday 1^st August
• A Big P drama production and activities in South Bristol on the Wednesday 4^th August 
• A Mural project in Inner City Bristol with Somali teenagers
• Activities in Lawrence Weston
• Self esteem and assertiveness skills courses for young people in Lockleaze

Get involved

Visit the NHS Bristol website 
Check out the local press for coverage of upcoming events
Contact the campaign lead Amy Campbell to get involved: amycampbell@nhs.net or 0117 9003438