Swale Action To End Domestic Violence (Sateda) has expanded its areas of expertise after launching its youth programme.

The charity, which runs initiatives to help women in abusive relationships, is rolling out its youth outreach work across the borough following the scheme’s early success.

It officially started on a small scale last year after the government’s cabinet office handed it almost £70,000 to run a programme that promotes healthy relationships to children.

Starting this summer, Sateda – the Times Guardian and Sittingbourne News Extra's charity of the year – is also beginning its adolescent parental violence programme, called SwitchUp, using cash from the Kent Integrated Adolescent Service and Support (KIASS) and Swale council’s community safety unit.

So far, members of the youth team have visited a number of primary and secondary schools in Swale, including South Avenue Primary School in Sittingbourne and the Oasis Academy on Sheppey.

The type of work the youngsters do depends on how old they are, but group work can focus on things including grooming and ‘sexting’ with young teenagers
to recognising being in an abusive relationship with the older years.

Domestic violence counsellors also work with young girls who do not attend school any more and therefore do not have the same access to help as other youngsters.

Julie Roberts-Marley, who is the project coordinator for the youth service, said of the vital work Sateda is now doing with teenagers: “We are trying to break that cycle of violence.

“We are here to support the kids, saying ‘Just because you witnessed it, you don’t need to do the same thing’.

“Funding is limited, but we are looking at half-term clubs – when children are not in school – and doing more outreach work then.”

Sateda is also planning to launch a programme working with children with special needs.

In partnership with Meadowfields School in Swanstree Avenue, Sittingbourne, the charity is also hoping to work closely with children with learning difficulties who can sometimes become victims of abuse because of the strain placed on households with a special-needs child.

For more information about Sateda, visit sateda.org or call 01795 417251