Family Solicitors

West Lancashire County Council has announced a new scheme to help young women in West Lancashire avoid being victims of domestic abuse.

The West Lancashire Safe Teens Project will aim to ensure girls and young women from age 13 are supported and given the skills to deal with issues – including domestic abuse, sexual harassment, child sexual exploitation, as well as social media abuses, such as cyber bullying, grooming or revenge porn.

West Lancashire Borough Council, the Liberty Centre and West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) worked together on a successful application for £160,089 to the Home Office – and the money will fund the project for three years.

The West Lancashire scheme was one of only 17 projects nationwide to be awarded money by the Home Office in this round of funding, said the council.

A Safe Teens Development Worker at the Liberty Centre will deliver the project on behalf of the West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership (WLCSP).

The council says that other aims of the project include building resilience and confidence in teenage girls, to promote an understanding of healthy relationships and consent.

Another priority will be to increase awareness of domestic abuse issues through a bystanders’ network – this will include parents, teachers and health service workers, so communities can share a collective understanding and have the means to intervene safely and effectively.

Chief officer at NHS West Lancashire CCG, Mike Maguire, said:

“The West Lancashire Safe Teens Project is vital, as it helps to empower girls and young women to understand what is and isn’t a healthy relationship and arm them with the skills to deal with situations that they may find themselves in.

“The project doesn’t stop there – it will also look to raise greater awareness across our whole population of the signs of domestic abuse to look out for, so that we can all help to tackle this issue.

“This project is a great example of key partners in West Lancashire coming together to tackle such a sensitive and important issue – and I’ll look forward to seeing it grow from strength to strength over the next three years."

In a separate boost to its funding, the Liberty Centre will also receive a £97,310 share of further government funding of £1.3 million for refuge provision and support to victims of domestic abuse across Lancashire.

West Lancashire Borough Council, along with other district councils across the county, assisted the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Lancashire County Council with the successful bid.

This money will provide, on a fixed term basis, three additional posts to help women needing support to remain safely in their homes or access accommodation away from the refuge through the provision of a Sanctuary Scheme.

A Complex Needs Support Worker will support victims accessing this and a Domestic Abuse Development Worker will help victims access training and support them into employment.

A Family Support Worker will also ensure high-level therapeutic needs among the wider family are addressed and help reduce the risk of the children becoming future victims.

Duncan Lewis Family Solicitors

Duncan Lewis family solicitors can advise victims of domestic abuse on how to tackle the issues within the law, including advising on controlling or coercive behaviour, domestic abuse between partners or spouses or same sex partners, child-parent domestic abuse, elder abuse, domestic abuse between friends or flatmates, and financial abuse.

Duncan Lewis is also able to advise on FGM, forced marriage, honour crimes and dowry disputes – and advises on family law under the laws of England and Wales and Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on tackling domestic abuse, call Duncan Lewis family solicitors in confidence on 0333 772 0409.

For urgent legal help with a domestic violence matter, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607, where a family lawyer is available 24/7.