Domestic abuse affects everyone in a household and at Dumbarton Districts Women’s we provide support to children and young people who have lived in such environment. However domestic abuse can happen at any age and we also offer support to young people who may be experiencing domestic abuse in their own relationships. We also offer support to women to raise their awareness and understanding of their children's experiences and the impact domestic abuse can have on them.
Refuge Support
The children and young people who come in to refuge are allocated a dedicated key worker. The key worker will support the children and young people throughout their stay in refuge and when they move on. This can include providing emotional support, counselling and helping with practical elements such enrolling the children and young people in school or nursery; helping families to access health services and other professionals when necessary. We also help to ensure that the children and young people have all they need when they entry refuge. We provide them with a welcome bag suitable for their age and will work with our community partners to access anything else they require.
Counselling and Support
We offer outreach and counselling support to children and young people to help them to express and understand their feelings, build confidence and self-esteem and to build links within the local community. This can be provided within the child or young persons education establishment or within our own playroom and teenage room or in the community. All support and counselling are age appropriate, often delivered through play and art activities.
Children and young people can be referred by their parents, guardian, schools or even themselves. The individuals mothers does not need to be supported by us for us to support the child.
Group Activities
We provide a range of group activities focusing on relevant topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, internet safety, social skills and resilience. These groups also allow children and young people to form connection with peer who have a similar lived experience. This helps them to feel included and understood.
Family Events
Periodically we facility family events such as pantomime trip, safari park outing or swimming etc. This allows families to create new positive memories and offers hope for happier times in the future.
