Crisis Café hosts Safety Speaks event

Crisis Café in Newry, which provides mental health support for young people, has been highlighting the signs of safe relationships through a partnership with the Housing Executive. The Safety Speaks event was held at the café as in the run up to Domestic Abuse Awareness Week (19-23 October). Local young people took part in discussions on youth homelessness and on identifying red and green flags in a relationship.

Grainne Graham, Co-Founder and Social Work Manager of the Crisis Café, said: “Crisis café is a welcoming space where young people can drop in and be heard and understood, whatever they’re going through.

“There will always be someone to listen and help.”

She added: “It was great to welcome the Housing Executive to share their insight around homelessness and domestic abuse, and discuss signs of safe and unsafe relationships.”

Crisis Café delivers a range of programmes to support young people, including The Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG), which it delivers on behalf of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Eibhlin Collins, Youth Homelessness Lead at the Housing Executive, said: “We’ve been working with Crisis Café to support young people at risk of homelessness or housing insecurity through the ‘What’s next?’ project, funded by the Homelessness Prevention Fund.

“It was a great opportunity to visit the café and raise awareness of domestic abuse with young people.

“One in five people will become victims of domestic abuse at some point in their lives, so we want to help young people to make positive choices in relationships and make sure they know where to seek help and advice.

“Safe spaces like the Crisis Café are so important for young people to share experiences, ask questions and access support.”

One person who has been positively impacted by the work of Crisis Café is Olivia Gallagher, who now works as its Mental Health Support Worker.

Speaking about her experience with Crisis Café Gallagher said: “Coming to the Crisis Café as a teenager transformed my mental health, and now, working there at 23 years old, it’s rewarding to see the same positive impact on a new generation of young people.

“Safety Speaks was a great opportunity to have an open discussion with young people about what safety looks like in a relationship and what could be red flags, and let them know where they can turn to for help.”