Relationship abuse has a devastating effect on the lives of around 2.3million people in the UK each year. But if you are disabled, you are twice as likely to experience domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault, twice as likely to be living with the perpetrator and almost four times as likely to experience abuse from multiple people. SEND young people are more likely to become victims of grooming, mate crime and cuckooing and wait on average a year longer before trying to get help to escape their situation.

LMK is an education charity working to change this and in the last year alone we have reached 2,200 young people with our life-saving abuse prevention workshops. We take an early intervention approach to domestic violence, relationship abuse and sexual violence and offer free workshops to schools and community organisations teaching young people aged 11-24 to spot and stop unhealthy relationship behaviours in themselves and others, using the 10 signs framework. The knowledge gained from attending our workshop reduces the risk of young people becoming victims or perpetrators of relationship abuse, empowering them to thrive in all types of relationships.

* After attending LMK workshops, three-quarters of young participants said we had changed their understanding of what behaviours are healthy and unhealthy in relationships and 90% knew how to help a friend (or themselves) leave an abusive relationship*

How big is the need for LMK SEND workshops?

5% of LMKs current workshop participants have a disability but we have a long list of specialist schools and SEND community groups waiting to work with us. By hiring two specialist SEND youth workers we will be able to meet this demand and work in co-designing our workshops and adapt our materials so they are accessible and more relevant to the lives and experiences of SEND teenagers. Reasoning, predicting events and understanding consequences are all areas of weakness that make SEND youth less able to weigh up someone's motives and make them more open to becoming victims of unhealthy behaviours and specifically some of the 10 Signs we talk about in our workshops - manipulation, belittling, isolation and deflecting responsibility.

The IMPACT your donation will have

- You are supporting the only UK programme for SEND young people of this kind. With your donation, we can help SEND youth across London develop skills and confidence to understand healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviours.

- Learn to spot the red flag of abuse and where to get help and ongoing support.

- Your donations will play a life-changing and vital role in reducing the number of SEND young people in London becoming victims of abuse.

St Mary Magdalene Academy, London

We can achieve this, with your help! Thank you!