Stella Project Young Women's Initiative
Login to
the Young Women's Initiative members area (available to
participating agencies in Enfield and Kensington & Chelsea
only)
Improving responses to young women with
experiences of domestic and/or sexual violence and substance
misuse
Research highlights that some women may use drugs and alcohol as
coping mechanisms for experiences of violence and abuse (Humphreys
et al, 2005). However, no scoping work has yet been done
on experiences of violence and the possible relationship with
problematic drug and alcohol use of younger women in
relationships. Through research and development over three years,
the Stella Project's young women's initiative will work with eight
agencies across two London boroughs - the London Borough of Enfield
and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea - to improve
responses to young women with experiences of domestic and/or sexual
violence and problematic substance use.
Research (October 2010 - November 2011)
Middlesex University, supported by the Stella Project, will
undertake research to scope the prevalence of the overlapping
issues of domestic and sexual violence and problematic drug
and alcohol use experienced by young women in the two
boroughs. The research report and recommendations will be presented
at a national launch event in November 2011.
Practice (September 2011 - March 2013) The
Stella Project will provide tailored training and consultancy
support to agencies in the two boroughs over 18 months, including
integrating the work at borough level into the bodies responsible
for strategic oversight for the delivery of young people's services
and young people's substance misuse treatment in particular.
Evaluation (April - August 2013) Middlesex
University, supported by the Stella Project, will conduct an
evaluation of the Stella Project's intervention with the eight
agencies. The final evaluation report will be published in August
2013.
The findings of this research will provide, for the first time,
insight into the prevalence of problematic substance use and
domestic and sexual violence experienced by young women accessing
services in London. It will also provide insight into young women's
help seeking and referral pathways, and the ability of current
services to meet their needs.
Download the full project outline
here (PDF).
View presentations from our launch event on 1 December
2010.
