Schools' healthy relationships programme raises awareness of domestic abuse

October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, and Stratford-on-Avon District Council is taking the opportunity to highlight initiatives to raise awareness across the district.  

From November 2024 to March 2025, Stratford-on-Avon District Council funded through the Police and Crime Commissioner Fund, the Loudmouth Theatre in Education tour in Stratford-on-Avon District schools. Aimed at increasing young peoples' knowledge of domestic abuse.  

The Safe and Sound Theatre in Education programme was shown to a total of 1,945 young people in secondary schools and 931 primary school pupils. The programme follows a young couple as their relationship develops. Healthy and unhealthy characteristics of the relationship are discussed with pupils, and topics such as respect, privacy and consent are explored.  

The programme was delivered using a drop-down format, consisting of one-hour performance and character Q&A to a whole year group, followed by consecutive, class at a time discussion workshops.  

The programme was successfully received by the schools, with 91% of students stating that their knowledge of teenage partner abuse was 'Good' or 'Excellent'. Additionally, 98% of students stated that they felt 'Confident' or 'Very Confident' about spotting signs of power and control in relationships.  

A Year 10 student from Studley High School, said: ''Because it brings awareness to those who don't know or can't see the signs of an unhealthy relationship.'' And one Year 9 Student from Stratford Girls' Grammar School, said: "It helped to raise awareness and to show to the subtler signs of abuse. Very informative.''

Cllr Natalie Gist, Portfolio Holder for Law and Governance at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: "We are extremely proud of the success and reach of the programme. Domestic Abuse in all its forms is more common than any of us could imagine, and the suffering and trauma endured by those victims is relentless.

"It is particularly important that young people are helped to learn to identify the signs of power and control in relationships, how they may seek help and to have confidence that there will be someone to support them.  This DA Awareness month, we want to highlight services that are available to victims of domestic abuse. Please visit our website to find out more: Domestic Abuse | Stratford-on-Avon District Council".

Philip Seccombe, Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire, said: "Reducing violent crime and tackling abuse in all forms is a priority within my Police and Crime Plan. It is welcoming to see the success that this programme, supported through my annual Community Safety Partnership fund, has had across the district. "Education and early intervention are key to building safer communities, and I commend everyone involved in making this programme such a success. Anyone affected by domestic abuse must know that they are not alone and support in Warwickshire is available from Refuge: Refuge Domestic Violence Service Warwickshire - Refuge."