This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Research verdict on Zero Tolerance
21/06/2002
A school pilot scheme aimed at preventing violence against women has proved successful, according to new research published today.
An evaluation of the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust's ' Respect' programme, which is funded by the Executive, found that young people involved believed that they had learned more about healthy relationships and challenging gender stereotypes.
Social Justice Minister Margaret Curran said:
"The education materials produced by Zero Tolerance have clearly been very useful. We will now help to ensure that these materials are made available to schools across Scotland.
"We must make sure that future generations grow up understanding that there is absolutely no excuse for domestic abuse. The 'Respect' education materials have proved successful in teaching young people about healthy relationships based on respect and equality."
The main findings were:
- Over 90 per cent of respondents believe that there is a clear need for this kind of work
- The education materials generated discussion of issues which had not been examined properly with young people in the past
- The majority of young people believed that they had learned more about respect, communication, equality, power, violence and abuse
- The materials, with some amendments, would be useful and appropriate in schools and youth work settings in Scotland
During 2000, over £50,000 funding was provided by the Executive to the Zero Tolerance Charitable Trust to develop the 'Respect' pilot project. A further £50,000 will be provided for Zero Tolerance to roll out the programme across Scotland. This will include revising the education materials, printing sets for every local authority, and holding a series of seminars to promote the pack.
Dr Sheila Henderson of Reid Howie Associates conducted the evaluation. The pilot was carried out in two primary and two secondary schools in Edinburgh and Glasgow and a number of youth groups in each city.
Executive action on domestic abuse includes:
- A long running advertising campaign to raise awareness and change attitudes
- Setting up a national freephone domestic abuse helpline, sponsored by Thus plc
- A national strategy to address domestic abuse and £23m over four years to provide protection, prevention and provision for victims
A working group set up by the National Group to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland is developing a national prevention strategy. It will emphasise the need for primary prevention work with young people to stop abuse before it happens.