FAMILIES in Gwent that are affected by domestic abuse are set to get help from children’s charity Barnardo’s Cymru, due to £950,000 of Home Office funding.

It will support the charity's Opening Closed Doors project, focusing on children and young people affected by the trauma of abuse, which could otherwise impact on their schooling, mental health and long-term wellbeing.

A new whole-family approach will mean parents who are victims of domestic abuse will also receive support, while perpetrators of that abuse take part in programmes designed to change behaviour, rebuild relationships and keep families safe for the future.

The funding is part of an £8 million investment in its Children Affected by Domestic Abuse (CADA) programme by the Home Office, in projects across the country. Barnardo’s Cymru will run project in Gwent, the only one in Wales.

“We recognise that domestic abuse is an epidemic with devastating effects on children and their families," said Marisa Moon, assistant director of Barnardo’s Cymru.

“Children who live in a home with domestic abuse often blame themselves and live in a state of fear, which negatively impacts their ability to learn.

"They often begin to identify with either the perpetrator or survivor of the abuse, without having a template for healthy relationships.

"The Opening Closed Doors project will work with the family as a unit to support each person’s needs to ensure children are safe.”

In the year to March 31 2018 there were almost 600,000 incidents of domestic abuse recorded in the England and Wales crime figures, up 23 per cent on the previous year, with a further 600,000 not recorded by police as crimes. The figures are believed to be the tip of the iceberg.

Barnardo’s Cymru will work with Gwent Police and councils in Torfaen, Monmouth, Blaenau Gwent, Newport and Caerphilly.

A range of services will be provided, from early intervention to high level child protection. The aim will be to improve relationships and, wherever possible, keep children at home with their parents in a safe environment.

Witnessing domestic abuse is one of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) which can impact on a child’s adult life, from shortened life expectancy to risk of imprisonment and mental health problems.

The Opening Closed Doors project will be launched on March 1 and run for more than a year. It will deliver evidence-based interventions to children and young people. A key worker will work alongside social services and the police to achieve long term outcomes for the wider family.

A range of services will be delivered across Gwent, based on local need, to enable children and young people to recover from their experiences, build resilience, strengthen parenting capacity, and support system change to improve outcomes for children and their families.

Barnardo’s has already had success with interventions in Gwent, such as the 10-week Star Programme in Newport, which supports children who have witnessed domestic violence or been victims themselves, The children may be traumatised, have feelings of despair or anger and be struggling at school.

They receive help to talk about their feelings, develop coping skills and build positive relationships, they also have chance to meet other children who have been through similar traumas.

Opening Closed Doors will have a cross border policy so families can access support within Gwent but outside their own county borough.