youthmoney

Eighteen-year-old Gabriella gave money to her boyfriend when he was out of work.

The money I gave him went on his booze and cigarettes. I was making £200 a month and after giving him money I’d have nothing left for myself.

If I told him I didn’t have any money, he’d call me a liar and check my bank statements. He also said it was my fault he was jobless because I was holding him back. He’d call me names and insult me until my self-esteem was rock bottom and felt that I deserved no better.

Such stories are not rare. The YWCA calls it financial abuse and thinks it should be more widely recognised. It wants to see professionals, including youth workers, teachers and doctors, trained in identifying and supporting young women at risk of such abuse.

There’s a downloadable two page leaflet that gives a graphic account of the kinds of financial abuse the YWCA comes across in its projects. And a lot of other very good information and insights about young women and money.