Domestic abuse scheme helps 1,000 families

The Safer Futures domestic abuse helpline is run by First Light in partnership with Barnardo's

A project to protect children from domestic abuse has supported more than 1,000 families across Cornwall since 2022, a council has said.

Family domestic abuse support advisors work with children's social workers to give support, advice and guidance to families affected by domestic abuse.

There is an advisor in each of Cornwall Council's family assessment teams in Launceston, Liskeard, Bodmin, St Austell, Newquay, Truro, Camborne, Redruth and Penzance.

The advisors are employed by First Light, a domestic abuse and sexual violence charity.

'Joined-up response'

Rebecca Sargent, lead for the project at the council, said: "The family advisors are able to work together with social workers and other social care staff to enable children and their families to access support which means they quickly get the right help they need."

She said the advisors had worked with midwives, health visitors, school nurses and other education staff to make sure that children and their families had "a joined-up response".