12 week Group Programme for children aged 5-16 years & their mothers or female carers in partnership with CEA@Islington

The course provides:

Support to understand the abuse of power and control they have experienced and in finding a way to recover from it.

Positive conflict resolution through play, art or drama is explored so children learn new ways to solve problems and be heard.

A safe predictable environment is created through the negotiation of ground rules, promoting honest discussion as well as monitoring issues of child protection.

The aim is to help children identify and express emotions related to the violence including: Loss, shame, guilt, anger, blame.

Safety planning helps empower children and keeps them safer in the event of further violence. It is also hoped they will also make more informed choices around personal relationships.

Self-esteem is enhanced through encouragement & attendance.

• The groups meets 1½ hrs weekly after school hours.
• Each group is age specific and gender balanced and has approx 4-6 participants
• Two experienced group workers facilitate each session

Mother’s / female carers must also attend adult meetings and commit to working with their child regularly on ‘home-play’ assignments, which will help further the healing.It is important that both the carer & child actively & willingly participate. Referrals must be made in full consultation with them. When a referral is made an initial assessment will take place to see if the child / young person is suitable for group work.
We endeavour to fit participants into a compatible group; if this is not possible we can usually provide some one to one support.

Unfortunately there are some exemptions from this programme

• The child / young person must be able to acknowledge that domestic violence has taken place, and not present as severely depressed / traumatised.
• Although we recognise that there is a need, we cannot work with perpetrators of violence.
• A child/young person who is still living in a domestic violence situation cannot take part in this programme as participation could make them more unsafe in the home environment, but we can offer individual support.
• To be able to participate successfully in the group, the child / young person must have a good understanding of English, there is an interpreting service for their mother / female carer.

For more information on the group work service contact Deborah on: 020 7281 9287
or email dfoley@iwauk.org

Children’s Service

IWA's Community Based Service is providing a new Children's Project. This project offers support, advice and information to children and young people under the age of sixteen affected by domestic violence. Our aim is to work closely with children, young people and their mothers/female carers. We offer a safe space where children and young people can take part in group activities and individual sessions. Sessions take place on a: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Morning 10.30am - 12.30pm and also on Tuesday afternoon 2.00pm - 4.00pm. (A maximum of 4 children at any one time) A drop in session for mothers/females carers takes place on a Friday morning from 10.00am onwards, offering support, advice and information on any child related issues. This is a free service funded by BBC Children In Need, we work in partnership with Social Services, local schools, various voluntary organisations & Sure Start Programmes For more information contact: 020 7281 9287