Telford & Wrekin Council and partners have underlined their commitment to prevent and tackle all forms of domestic abuse with the launch of a new strategy.

The Domestic Abuse Strategy 2023-25 was approved at the council's cabinet meeting and the borough’s health and wellbeing board in March, and a new integrated domestic abuse service was commissioned.

Through the newly formed Domestic Abuse Forum, victims and survivors of domestic abuse have shaped the strategy and the commissioning process.

The strategy also commits to routinely taking on board the voices and expertise of people who have experienced domestic abuse through the forum.

One of the issues highlighted was the need to provide better mental health support to those suffering domestic abuse.

The newly commissioned domestic abuse service will better integrate multiple support services for victims and children into one service.

There will be a clear integrated pathways in the new service for children, young people, adults and families to access mental health support.

Cranstoun has been commissioned to provide the new service for the next three years in partnership with West Mercia's Women's Aid as a specialist domestic abuse provider.

The new service will be operational in June 2023, providing specialist support for victims, support for children affected by

domestic abuse, safe accommodation, and a perpetrator behaviour change programme.

Telford and Wrekin Council is also the first in the UK to sign the Child to Parent Abuse Covenant, which has been developed by a social enterprise known as Parental Education Growth Support.

Recognising Child to Parent Abuse has been incorporated into the new domestic abuse strategy to prevent professionals from misappropriating parenting fault and ensuring families get the support they need.

The Domestic Abuse Strategy 2023-25 can be read on Telford and Wrekin Council’s website, and information about the newly commissioned service will come later in the year.