The need to tackle domestic abuse among young people is unmet. Teen DA is often hidden with many consequences, including effects on cognitive abilities, and greater likelihood of girls (4 to 6 times more likely than non-abused peers) becoming pregnant as teenagers. Girls 15 to 18 are vulnerable as usually unable to access mainstream services, or may not conceptualise their experiences as abuse.

Provision of an informed, sympathetic and gender-sensitive response to girls and boys seeking help is vital and, with peer support and adult learning mentors, has the potential to make a difference to the lives of local young people. We want to reach out to all young people, particularly most vulnerable in terms of bullying and DA and those which our organisation has found hard to reach. These include minority ethnic groups in Woking and the LGB&T population throughout North West Surrey.