Working with Schools

Educating young people about domestic abuse and promoting healthy relationships is the best way to prevent domestic abuse for future generations.

We believe knowledge is power and that the more young people know about what relationship abuse looks like, the healthier choices they will make.

Preventing domestic abuse and breaking the cycle of abuse is a vital part of our work. That’s why we work with schools to promote healthy relationships and educate young people about what domestic abuse looks like.

We believe it’s impossible to overestimate the value of teaching young people about this subject, and last year our workers addressed over 1,400 children at school assemblies and classes across Chesterfield.

Escape the TRAP

An 8-week programme specifically designed to help young people recognise and protect themselves from teenage relationship abuse. The course covers:
  • Young people’s expectations of their intimate relationships
  • The behaviours and beliefs of those who treat them badly
  • Identifying the things abusive partners may say and do to them
  • The experience of coercive control & bullying
  • The switching of tactics
  • Emotional abuse
  • Sexual coercion and abuse
  • How this behaviour impacts the way young people might feel about themselves, their mental health and emotional wellbeing
  • Feeling isolated and alone, guilty and to blame for what is happening to them
  • How to identify such behaviour early on in a new relationship
The SelfAware Project

The SafeAware Project

SafeAware Group work is for young people at risk of abuse and is delivered over six sessions.

The sessions cover a range of topics including safety within relationships, online activity, improving self-esteem and confidence, what constitutes abuse and how to keep safe. A safety plan will be developed with the young people ensuring they understand the risks and know how to access help in an emergency.

The programme has the following aims:

  1. To improve children and young people’s self-esteem, confidence and coping strategies.
  2. Complete age-appropriate safety planning including ensure children and young people know how to contact emergency services.
  3. Exploring the individual wishes, feelings and emotions of children and young people.
  4. Working in partnership with statutory and non-statutory agencies when the need arises to ensure the safety of the children, young people and families we work with.
  5. To understand domestic abuse and its impact.

If you would like to arrange a talk on preventing domestic abuse, please email us on info@theelmfoundation.org.uk or call 08000 198 668.