CODA - Children overcoming domestic abuse

Not only is this timely following the Domestic Abuse Act, which recognises children as victims in their own right, but there is increasing attention being given to what interventions work for children affected by domestic abuse. Our independent evaluation by Middlesex University and the University of Sussex highlights how children felt more positive about themselves and their lives after participating in our programme. 

This is the best group ever, we do fun things, get to talk about our feelings and you really take care of us

Aaron aged 6

I don’t know how but he is calmer now and its been so helpful to be able to talk to staff who know about other services and what they can do to help

Aaron’s mother

I noticed the difference in him straight away; he absolutely loved it. He really, really enjoyed it. And every week, it was, like, the highlight of his week: Oh today, I’ve got [group]. 

Mothers Focus Group

I used to think, like, fighting was an option, that it was a good option, but it wasn’t. And, like, I learnt that fighting wasn’t good, and that I should go to someone about it instead of fighting. And, like, the whole group made me think about what I do and it’s changed me as a person. And it’s a good change.

Lena, age 12

Children spoke about the groups as helping people express their feelings about the things that were happening to them:

It’s all about helping people in their lives expressing their feelings, and it’s talking to them about their family and their friends and other people, like, I don’t know but they could help you in your life.

Elena, aged 8

Children reported that the groups helped them to feel better about themselves and made them feel more confident to talk about their feelings to others:

“It makes you confident.” 

Geno, age 13

“they helped me express my feelings, and helped me realise that you can speak out to people, all my friends and my family.” 

Elena, age 8

The mothers reported how their children gained confidence since participating in the groups. Mothers spoke about children being more open and more communicative, and expressive in ways they hadn’t been before joining the groups: 

Mary is a completely different child now. Completely. She’s more open; she’ll actually come and talk to me. Whereas before, she’d hide everything.

Mothers Focus Group

Children spoke about valuing the support they received from other children in the group and the ability to share and hear about other children’s experiences: 

That it wasn’t […] that there wasn’t only just me, there were other people the same as me, that it didn’t feel like I was alone, there were other people who knew what I was talking about.

Joy, 11