Gabriella and her daughter Claire, aged nine, had experienced years of domestic abuse before Gabriella left Claire’s father. Claire had witnessed emotional, verbal and physical abuse towards her mother, and even after the relationship ended, her father continued to use child contact arrangements as a means of coercive control. Following breaches of court orders, Gabriella and Claire were moved to a new address for their safety.
When the family was referred to Welcare by Social Care, they were being supported through a Child in Need plan. Gabriella was struggling with her confidence, self-esteem and low mood, rarely leaving the house other than for school drop-offs and essentials. Claire, who has mild learning difficulties, was finding it difficult to manage her emotions, and concerns had been raised about her school attendance and relationships with peers.
Welcare provided one-to-one support for both Gabriella and Claire through the Domestic Abuse Recovery Toolkit. The Domestic Abuse Recovery Toolkit helps children and parents who have experienced domestic abuse to understand its impact, explore their feelings, strengthen family relationships, and build confidence and resilience. Sessions were delivered in parallel in the family home, with resources adapted to meet Claire’s learning needs.
Alongside this support, Welcare attended Child in Need review meetings and provided practical assistance, including a Feed London food box and Merlin Magic Wand tickets for a family day out at Chessington World of Adventures.
As the support progressed, both Gabriella and Claire made significant progress. Claire developed greater confidence and improved emotional regulation. Prior to the intervention, she sometimes became involved in conflict with peers and displayed aggressive behaviour at school. As support continued, these concerns reduced considerably. Gabriella also reported fewer emotional outbursts at home, improved cooperation, and better communication from Claire. Her school attendance increased as well.
For Gabriella, the impact was equally significant. Through the sessions, she gained a better understanding of the effects of domestic abuse on both herself and her daughter. Her confidence grew, and she became motivated to create a brighter future for them both. She began leaving the house more often, considered seeking part-time employment, improved her self-care and wellbeing, and adopted a more positive parenting approach.
Professionals also noticed the difference. Claire’s school Designated Safeguarding Lead commented on the remarkable change in Gabriella’s appearance and demeanour, saying she was almost unrecognisable from when support first began.
There were challenges along the way. Claire preferred not to receive support in school, so sessions were delivered at home. During the intervention, Claire’s father resumed contact, leading to renewed safety concerns. Welcare’s Family Support Worker made a referral to MARAC, resulting in additional safety planning and improved home security through the Stay Safe programme.
Reflecting on the support they received, Claire said she felt happier and more confident. Gabriella said the programme had helped her understand the impact of the abuse they had experienced and the emotions she had carried for many years.
She said:
“I did not imagine that I could feel confident again. I felt so much guilt about the past. The programme has helped us so much.”
Following the support, Gabriella felt ready to engage with specialist domestic abuse counselling to continue her recovery.
Today, Gabriella and Claire are a more confident and resilient family, with a stronger understanding of their experiences and a renewed sense of hope for the future.
