Extra funding to tackle child to parent abuse

Families with children who are violent towards their parents are to be given additional support through new funding.

Up to 120 families in Darlington and County Durham will be able to access an extension to a family intervention programme and additional support workers.

The £47,510 grant was approved by Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen and members of the County Durham and Darlington Serious Violence Prevention Partnership.

The money will be used to expand the Respect Young People's Programme (RYPP) - an intervention scheme targeting those aged eight to 18 who use violence or abuse towards parents and carers.

It will allow more of RYPP's group programmes to be carried out with young people known to the children's social care or youth justice systems and fund two additional "child and adolescent to parent violence and abuse ambassadors".

Allen said: "We know that families often reach out for help at a crisis point, but partners are working hard locally to ensure families and young people receive support much earlier to stop abuse before it escalates."

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