Lesson video

Hello, my name's Miss Willow, and I'm going to be your teacher for today's lesson.

Today's lesson is called "How to Protect Myself and Others," and it fits into the unit "Power in Relationships: What Does a Healthy Relationship Feel Like?" During this lesson, we are going to be talking about sexual violence, so for this lesson, we require you to have an adult with you.

If you don't have an adult with you at the moment, come back to this lesson when you have one with you.

Okay, let's make a start on today's lesson.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to describe the signs of domestic abuse that others might see and explain how to challenge unacceptable behavior and attitudes.

Before we get started with today's lesson, we need to go over some ground rules.

These help to make sure that everyone feels safe and comfortable during today's lesson.

First of all, Laura says that we need to listen to others.

It's okay to disagree with each other, but we should always listen properly before we make any assumptions or before we decide how to respond.

When we disagree with someone else, it's important to challenge the statement and not the person themselves.

Next, Andeep says that we need to respect each other's privacy.

We can discuss examples, but we shouldn't use any names or descriptions that could identify anyone, including ourselves.

If we want to share a story, we can refer to someone as "my friend." This means that we're not going to give away any identifying information.

Next, Jacob says, "No judgment.

We can explore any beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic without fear of being judged by others." And finally, Izzy says that we can choose our level of participation.

Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or to join in with discussion.

We should never put anyone on the spot, as this can make some people feel uncomfortable.

We're now going to take a look at the keywords for today's lesson.

Our first keyword is "abuse." This is to hurt, mistreat, or control another person on purpose, either physically, emotionally, or verbally, causing harm or pain.

Next, we have "stigma." This means being judged or treated unfairly just because of a particular characteristic, situation, or condition, like having a mental health condition.

Today's lesson is split into two learning cycles.

Our first learning cycle is called "What are some of the signs of abuse?" And our second learning cycle is called "How can we protect against abuse?" Let's make a start on our first learning cycle: "What are some of the signs of abuse?" There are many different types of relationships that people will encounter in their life.

Social worker Natalie says that relationships should make a person feel respected and safe at all times.

If someone feels controlled, intimidated, or unsafe, unfortunately, this could mean that they're in an abusive relationship.

There are many different forms of domestic abuse, both physical and non-physical.

Social worker Natalie explains that multiple forms of abuse can be present in one relationship, and it's not only women who are recipients of abuse.

Men can experience abuse too.

People of any gender can experience abuse, and abuse can happen in any type of relationship.

It can be very difficult for a person to recognize or leave an abusive relationship if they're in one.

Social worker Natalie says that being able to identify some of the signs of abuse can help us to increase awareness and ensure that people get the help and support that they need.

Abusive relationships often involve a gradual pattern of controlling behavior, which can make it harder for someone to recognize what's happening.

We're now going to do a check for understanding to see how you're doing with this learning cycle so far.

I'd like you to decide if the statement is true or false.

"It's easy for a person to recognize that they're in an abusive relationship." What do you think? Is this true or false? Pause the video.

Talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that this is false, but why? You might have said that it can be very difficult for a person to recognize that they're in an abusive relationship.

This is why it's really important to raise awareness and for everyone to be able to identify some of the signs of abuse.

Some of the signs that a person you care about is experiencing domestic abuse may include changes in behavior.

So any sudden changes in behavior that are uncharacteristic for a person, such as canceling plans last minute, becoming socially withdrawn, or ignoring contact, could all be signs that someone is in an abusive relationship.

They may also seem anxious, jumpy, or nervous, especially around their partner.

Another sign is constant apologies and taking the blame.

So people experiencing domestic abuse will often blame themselves in order to protect the perpetrator.

Apologizing repeatedly and unnecessarily about the smallest of things could all be signs of abuse.

Poor mental health can also be a sign of abuse.

So there's a higher chance of experiencing poor mental health, such as anxiety or depression, when someone is in an abusive relationship.

They may seem more withdrawn, lose interest in the things that they used to enjoy, or they may express feelings of worthlessness.

Excessive contact from a person could also be a sign of abuse.

So regular communication with loved ones is healthy.

However, receiving nonstop calls or messages from, for example, a partner, particularly when accompanied by signs of discomfort or stress, could indicate controlling behavior.

This might include a partner needing to know where they are at all times or demanding immediate responses to messages and getting distressed if an immediate response is not received.

Unusual financial struggles can also be a sign of abuse.

So if someone is struggling with finances without an obvious reason, such as a loss of employment, this could be a sign that their finances are being controlled or withheld from them.

They may need to ask permission to spend money or have no access to bank accounts.

Inflexible routines can also be a sign of abuse, so recipients of abuse may be controlled by strict routines, from household chores to how they spend their free time.

If someone appears afraid to break a routine, this could be a sign of abuse.

Changes in appearance can also be a sign of abuse.

So to hide physical injury, a person may wear long sleeves or sunglasses more often and in non-appropriate weather.

Other subtle changes could include new hairstyles or wearing more makeup if this isn't characteristic for them.

If these changes are uncharacteristic or are the result of low self-esteem, they could all be signs of abuse.

Unexplained bruises, injuries, or marks could also be warning signs.

Let's do a check for understanding to see how you're doing.

Which of these could be a sign of an abusive relationship? A, a friend ignoring a message whilst in an important meeting? B, a friend suddenly and consistently ignoring your messages.

C, a friend getting stressed when their partner keeps ringing.

Or D, a partner wearing long sleeves even when it's hot.

Which of these could be a sign of an abusive relationship? Pause the video.

Talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that B, C, and D are correct.

A friend suddenly and consistently ignoring your messages, a friend getting stressed when their partner keeps ringing, and a friend wearing long sleeves even when it's hot are all signs of an abusive relationship.

Well done if you said the same thing.

We're now moving on to your first practice task.

And well done for your hard work in this lesson so far.

I'd like you to create a mind map to summarize some of the signs that a person is experiencing abuse.

Pause the video, and we'll go through what your completed mind map might look like in a few minutes.

Okay, let's have a look and see what you might have said.

You might have said that some signs of abuse are constant apologies and taking the blame, poor mental health including anxiety and depression, excessive contact from a person which causes discomfort or stress, unusual financial struggles without obvious reasons such as a loss of employment, inflexible routines and being afraid to break routines, changes in appearance, for example, long sleeves or sunglasses to hide injury, and changes in behavior like canceling plans or ignoring contact.

Well done if you had any of these ideas.

We're now moving on to our second learning cycle: "How can we protect against abuse?" Any form of domestic abuse is unacceptable, and there are steps that we can take to help protect against it.

First of all, education is really important.

Education helps us to understand the qualities of healthy relationships, and this can help us to recognize when a relationship might be unhealthy for us or for someone we care about.

The impact of this could be that if a friend says something to us like, "Whenever we disagree, Kyle always shouts and tells me that my opinions don't matter," we could respond with something like, "That doesn't sound healthy.

A partnership should respect our ideas, even if they disagree." Let's do a check for understanding to see how you're doing with this learning cycle so far.

Which of the following is an example of an unhealthy relationship? Person A says that "Claire got really heated during an argument yesterday and threw a bowl across the room.

She was angry because I arrived home from work later than expected.

I apologized, and she seemed okay this morning." Person B says that "Tom annoyed me so much last night that I had to go for a walk to clear my head.

We had a calm conversation when I got back, where we both shared our opinions and reached a resolution." Which of those is an example of an unhealthy relationship? Pause the video.

Talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that A is an example of an unhealthy relationship.

Now I'd like you to explain why this is an example of an unhealthy relationship.

Let's take a look at our scenario again.

Person A says that "Claire got really heated during an argument yesterday and threw a bowl across the room.

She was angry because I arrived home from work later than expected.

I apologize, and she seemed okay this morning." Why is this an example of an unhealthy relationship? Pause the video.

Talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

You might have said that breaking things in anger is a form of physical abuse and is a sign of an unhealthy relationship.

Furthermore, the person is also apologizing for being late when Claire responded with violence, which shows an unhealthy dynamic where the recipient feels responsible for the abuser's actions.

Well done if you said something like this.

We can also protect against abuse by challenging attitudes, stigma, and misconceptions.

So, outdated beliefs such as those about gender roles and power can reinforce harmful stereotypes, which can make it even harder for recipients of abuse to come forward.

The impact of this could be that if someone says something like, "Men can't possibly experience domestic abuse; we all know that they're the stronger gender," we might respond by saying something like, "That's not true!" Anyone can experience abuse; those misconceptions and stigma could stop someone seeking the help that they need." Strong laws can also protect against abuse.

So under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the law now recognizes many forms of abuse as a crime.

Police officer Kofi explains that any form of abuse, physical or non-physical, is against the law.

Even if technology is used to control or intimidate a person, online abuse is considered just as serious as face-to-face abuse.

Perpetrators must be held to account for their actions, and it's never the fault of the recipient of abuse.

We can also protect against abuse by encouraging people to speak up.

Openly talking about domestic abuse can create a society where people feel safe to talk about what they might be going through.

Social worker Natalie explains that recipients of abuse can feel trapped in an abusive relationship due to many reasons, such as low self-esteem or the threat of harm if they were to leave.

Open conversations can help to break down barriers and reduce the stigma, increasing the chances of people seeking support.

It's important to create environments where people feel believed and supported when they share their experiences.

We're now going to do another check for understanding, and I'd like you to complete the missing words.

"Open conversations around domestic abuse can help to break down 'blank' and reduce the 'blank,' increasing the chances of people seeking support." Where I've said the word "blank," can you decide which words are missing? Pause the video.

Talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that the missing words were "barriers" and "stigma." So our completed sentence should now be: "Open conversations around domestic abuse can help to break down barriers and reduce the stigma, increasing the chances of people seeking support." Support systems can also protect against abuse, so society can protect people in abusive situations by providing them with the help and support that they need.

Some examples of support systems might include shelters.

These are safe places where people can stay temporarily if they need to leave an abusive situation.

Helplines can also offer confidential phone services, offering advice and support at any time.

And counseling can also help to support recipients of abuse.

Talking to a trained professional for emotional support and guidance can help someone who's experienced or is experiencing domestic abuse.

Josephine, who's a charity helpline worker, says that examples of UK support services include the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which you can contact on 0808 2000 247, available 24/7.

Childline can also be contacted on 0800 1111 for young people and The Mix on 0808 808 4994 for under-25s.

These services are free, confidential, and can provide advice and support if someone is experiencing domestic abuse, worried about someone else, or has another concern.

Let's do another check for understanding to see how you're doing.

Which of the following are examples of support systems that are available for people experiencing domestic abuse? A, shelters that provide temporary safe accommodation for people who need to leave an abusive situation.

B, confidential helplines where trained advisors can offer support, information, and guidance at any time.

C, social media groups where people can share their personal experiences publicly with strangers online.

Or D, counseling services where people can talk to trained professionals about their experiences and feelings.

What do you think? Which of those are examples of support systems available for people experiencing domestic abuse? Pause the video.

Talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that A, B, and D are correct.

There are shelters available that provide temporary safe accommodation for people who need to leave an abusive relationship, and there are also confidential helplines where trained advisors can offer support, information, and guidance at any time.

There's also counseling services where people can talk to trained professionals about their experiences and feelings.

It may not be safe to share experiences in a social media group, as these are often not trained professionals that we can trust.

Well done if you said the same thing.

Sadly, abuse often goes unspoken.

Police officer Kofi explains that, however, if someone doesn't openly tell us that they're in an abusive situation, that doesn't mean that it's none of our business.

By noticing the signs of abuse and acting with care and sensitivity, we could help someone feel less alone and get the help and support that they need from the trusted adults around them.

Let's do another check for understanding.

This time, I'd like you to decide if the statement is true or false.

"If someone doesn't openly tell us that they're in an abusive situation, this means that it's none of our business." What do you think? Is this true or false? Pause the video.

Talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that this is false, but why? You might have said that if someone doesn't openly tell us, that doesn't mean that it's none of our business.

By noticing the signs of abuse and acting with care and sensitivity, we could help someone feel less alone and get them the help and support that they need from trusted adults.

Well done if you said something similar to this.

If you or someone else that you know is in an abusive situation, it's really important to seek help from a trusted adult.

If you're not heard straight away, keep on asking for help until you get the support that you need.

So, for example, in these illustrations, both of these people are speaking to a trusted adult, but those trusted adults aren't listening to them.

In this situation, both of them should speak to another trusted adult to get the help that they need.

Everyone has the right to feel respected and safe.

If you or anyone else that you know is in immediate danger, call the emergency services on 999 and ask for the police.

In situations where it's not safe to speak, you can dial 999 and stay silent.

When transferred to the automated system, press 55 to alert the police that you need help but cannot speak.

If it's not an emergency, but you would like support from the police, you can also call 101 for support.

Let's do a check for understanding to see how you're doing.

What should the person do in this situation? This young person says, "Mum, I need to tell you something," and then Mum says, "Can it wait?" What should this person do in this situation? Pause the video.

Talk to the people around you or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that they should keep on asking for help until they get the support that they need.

This might mean asking their mum again until she listens, or it could mean asking another trusted adult.

Well done if you said the same thing.

We're now moving on to our final practice task, and well done for your hard work in this lesson.

I'd like you to write the text for a leaflet titled "The Ways in Which We Can Protect Against Abuse." In your leaflet, I'd like you to try to include the following: education, challenging attitudes, the law, encouraging people to speak up, support systems, and what to do if we suspect an abusive situation.

Pause the video, and we'll go through what your leaflet might look like in a few minutes.

Okay, let's see what your leaflet text might look like.

"The Ways in Which We Can Protect Against Abuse." First of all, you might have said education.

You might have said that understanding healthy relationships helps us to recognize when a relationship might be unhealthy for ourselves or someone that we care about.

Challenging attitudes.

We must challenge stigma and misconceptions that reinforce harmful stereotypes and prevent people from seeking help.

Anyone can experience abuse regardless of gender or the relationship that they're in.

The law.

You might have said that any form of domestic abuse is against the law under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

It's never the recipient's fault for the abuse, and perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions.

Encouraging people to speak up is really important.

Open conversations break down barriers and reduce stigma, making it easier for people to seek the support that they need and to feel believed.

There's also support systems available for recipients of abuse, so shelters can provide safe and temporary accommodation.

Helplines can provide confidential advice, for example, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline or Childline for young people.

Counseling can also provide professional emotional support for someone who's experienced abuse.

You might have said, if you suspect abuse.

Abuse often goes unspoken.

By noticing the signs and acting with care, we can help someone to feel less alone.

And what to do.

You might have said that you need to speak to a trusted adult, keep asking for help until you get support, and call 999 if you or someone that you know is in immediate danger.

Remember that everyone has the right to feel respected and safe.

Well done if your leaflet text has some of these ideas.

We're now going to summarize the key learning from today's lesson.

In today's lesson, we've learned that it can be very difficult for a person to recognize or leave an abusive relationship.

Being able to identify some of the signs of abuse, like changes in behavior or excessive contact from a partner, can help us to increase awareness and ensure that people get the help and support that they need.

There are many ways in which we can protect against abuse, for instance, by educating people on what makes a healthy relationship, challenging stigma, and encouraging people to speak up.

And finally, we've learned that if someone is in an abusive situation, it's really important to seek help from a trusted adult and to keep on asking for help until you get support.

You can also call the emergency services on 999 if there is immediate danger to you or someone else.

In today's lesson, you might have found that you've got some worries or questions, and if you do, it's really important that you share these with a trusted adult.

There's also some resources on the screen that are there to help you too.

Well done for your hard work today.

I hope to see you again soon.