A SUPPORT service for teenagers and young men who have suffered domestic abuse has received a financial boost.

Survivors of Domestic Abuse (Soda) has been awarded £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to expand its services.

The money will be used to enhance its service giving young men across the Redcar and Cleveland area life skills and a sense of self-worth and purpose.

The group's Choices Project will reach out to boys and young men who have experienced physical and verbal abuse at the hands of a family member or care-giver.

Lindy O'Hare, founder and director of Soda, said: "I have been developing the project for some years and can finally put those thoughts into practice.

"As a society, we all know that some boys find it hard to talk about their feelings.

"We aim to give them all the support they need to gain respect for themselves, build self-confidence and show them that violence is never acceptable in any relationship."

Anyone wanting to contact the group can visit redcarandclevelandsoda.org, email enquiries@rcsoda.org or call 07982-870303.