Domestic Abuse: Recovering Together

Helping children recover from domestic abuse and improve relationships with their mothers

DART (Domestic Abuse: Recovering Together) helps between children aged seven to 11 years improve relationships with their mothers where there has been domestic abuse.

One in 20 children experience constant or frequent domestic abuse at home during childhood. Existing services often focus on helping mothers to recover from domestic abuse, and overlook the harm caused to their children.

Improving relationships between mothers and their children

Mothers who have lived with an abusive partner can often neglect their children's physical and emotional needs. Children can find it hard to talk to their mums about what has happened.

Through DART, children and their mothers can talk to each other about domestic abuse and rebuild their relationship. NSPCC workers bring children and mothers together in small groups to discuss their experiences openly.

The practitioners also spend some time working with mothers and children separately. Mothers draw up safety plans and coping strategies to address any difficult behavior in their children, while children are helped to understand what happened and explore their feelings about it.

Influencing new ways of working

We will share our lessons with other organisations and professionals, so they can develop better services for children who have witnessed domestic abuse and subsequently enjoy safer, happier relationships with their mothers.