Child, Youth and Family to participate in second anti-family violence forum

Child, Youth and Family, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community groups and the director and cast of the new musical drama ‘Once Were Warriors’ are holding a second free public forum to spread an anti-family violence message in Christchurch this Friday (26th). The forum will take place at the Theatre Royal starting at 12:45 pm.

The first forum held in Dunedin on 18 March attracted around 100 people who heard artistic director Jim Moriarty talk about his inspiration to bring ‘Once Were Warriors’ to the stage and of the family violence that is a theme of the drama. Jim, who has staged theatre therapy programmes in Child, Youth and Family residences, also spoke of the importance of addressing this societal issue for the wellbeing of future generations of children and young people.

Members of the cast sang songs from the show and also shared their own experiences of abuse.

Child, Youth and Family and organisations such as Women’s Refuge, Relationship Services, Safer Christchurch, the Canterbury Abuse Intervention Project, the Child Abuse Prevention Service, UNICEF, Barnardos, Rape Crisis, Save the Children, Age Concern, Plunket, Stopping Violence Services and the Mental Health Foundation, will support the forums by providing information to the public about anti-violence programmes run within local communities and on services that those experiencing family violence can draw on. There are forums planned in Auckland in April and Wellington in May.

Child, Youth and Family Acting General Manager Social Work Operations, Shannon Pakura, said: “Family violence is unacceptable. Those experiencing family violence can find support services to help them break the cycle of violence in their families.”

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