The pioneering domestic abuse programme, helping mothers and young children heal together.
We partner with local authorities, NHS teams and charities to ensure support is there for families in the early years, when it has the biggest impact.
By removing barriers for mothers and young children, we bridge the gap between crisis intervention and lasting well-being, delivering evidence-based support aligned with your community priorities.
Currently delivering life-changing results in the London Borough of Islington. Aiming to reach families across the UK soon.
Partner With Us: Deliver Safe Arbour in Your Community
If you’re a mother seeking support, please visit our For Mums & Referrers page.
Filling the Critical Gap Between Crisis and Healing
We bridge the gap between time‑sensitive early‑years needs and the support currently available.
The Unmet Needs and the Safe Arbour Solutions:
1
The Invisible Demographic
Roughly 105,000 children live with high‑risk of domestic abuse. Around a quarter are under three years old[1], a time when brain development is most rapid, yet services are scarcest.
Targeted Early Intervention
We provide specialist intervention for the 0–5 age range, ensuring healing begins at the critical window for mitigating long-term trauma.
2
Stalled Development & Trauma
Domestic abuse disrupts the mother-child bond and often leads to anxious attachment, constant alertness (hyper-vigilance), and reduced cognitive communication and emotional regulation in young children.
Strengthened Regulation & Development
Our evaluation [2] shows a 45% reduction in child behavioural concerns. Mothers report feeling closer to their children, more confident in their parenting, and better able to support their child’s emotions.
3
Lack of Access
Only 29% of survivors [3] are able to find specialist support for their children, leaving most families navigating recovery alone.
Barriers Removed
Safe Arbour offers dedicated early‑years support with high engagement: 85% of families who attend the first session complete the programme.
4
Long-term Trauma
Survivors often live with anxiety, depression, dissociation and post‑traumatic stress long after the abuse has ended. [4]
Long-term Impact
Six months after the group, 100% of mothers report feeling more confident in their parenting and in their ability to support their child’s recovery.
"National commissioning guidance recognises the importance of evidence-based, trauma-informed support for victims and their children. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner highlights that effective recovery services should include interventions that work with both the non-abusive parent and the child to support their joint recovery after domestic abuse." — Victim Services Commissioning Guidance for England and Wales [5]
For Mothers
Psychoeducation:
Understanding abuse dynamics and the pathway to recovery.
Practical Strategies:
Parenting tools that specifically recover identity & rebuild strength
Connection:
Building a vital peer support network.
For Children
Restorative Play:
Opportunities for messy, joyful, and spontaneous play that supports healthy brain development
Regulation:
Play-based methods to settle the nervous system ("rest and digest").
Trust:
Building social skills and positive experiences with safe adults.
Together
Joint Engagement:
Structured sensory, creative and interactive activities to enjoy side‑by‑side
New Narratives:
Creating positive new memories as a family.
Relationship:
Strengthening the secure mother-child bond.
A Complete, Evidence-Based Programme
Safe Arbour is not just a support group; it is a structured, specialist intervention, proven to significantly benefit mothers’ and children’s recovery, and strengthen mother-child attachment.
The Safe Arbour Method
• 12 Weekly Sessions (2.5 hours each), held during term time.
• Combined Time Together: Structured to repair the mother-child relationship
• Targeted Programmes: Specific Mothers’ group + Separate Children’s activities.
• Peer Support: Facilitated survivor empowerment building.
• Community Networking: Unstructured time over lunches and a half-term trip.
Three Pillars of Healing
Delivery Requirements at a Glance:
Venue: Accessible, safe space with two separate rooms (crèche room & group room).
Staff: 2 women's group facilitators, 1 family time facilitator, plus crèche staff (we train your team, or provide staff).
Cohort: 6-9 families per programme.
Comprehensive Support at Every Stage
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• 2-day intensive facilitator training
Safe Arbour team delivers the first two groups alongside your staff
• Safeguarding and risk management
• Programme delivery methodology
• Ongoing CPD opportunities
Your team becomes certified Safe Arbour facilitators
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• Complete session plans and scripts
• Participant workbooks and resources
• Children’s activity materials
• Assessment and evaluation tools
• Marketing templates for recruitment
Everything needed for successful delivery
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• Monthly supervision sessions
• Peer learning network access
• Quality assurance framework
• Annual practice updates
You’re never alone in delivery
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• Outcome measurement tools
• Funder report templates
• Data collection systems
• Case study development support
Demonstrate your impact clearly
Making the Financial Case: Prevention vs. Crisis
The cost of delivering Safe Arbour is scalable based on your local needs, staffing capacity, and delivery model. However, the cost of inaction is fixed and high.
The Comparative Cost: One Family vs. An Entire Group
One family in crisis costs the public purse an estimated £34,015 annually [6].
This single figure is more than the cost of running an entire Safe Arbour group for up to 9 families. And because Safe Arbour intervenes in the early years, these savings compound over a decade or more.
By intervening early with Safe Arbour, you prevent the escalation of needs that leads to these high-cost statutory interventions (police, social care, and mental health crises).
Get a Tailored Cost Analysis
Every partnership is unique. We work with you to build a delivery model that creates a sustainable, cost-effective solution for your area.
Book a Consultation to Discuss Costs
From Interest to Impact: How Partnership Works
Every area is different, but our partnerships generally follow these stages:
1. Exploration & Fit (Weeks 1-2)
We discuss your context, priorities, and establish whether Safe Arbour aligns with your needs.
Consultation, initial assessment, feasibility review
✓ No obligation, no cost
2. Scoping & Planning (Months 1-3)
Together we review potential venues, create referral pathways, recruit delivery team, and assist with funding applications.
Partnership agreement, staff selection, venue prep
✓ We guide every step
3. Training & Set-Up (Months 2-6)
We train your team, and work alongside delivery partners to support facilitators and families every step of the way.
2-day training, materials, certification
✓ Your team ready to deliver
4. Delivery & Ongoing Support
Initial co-facilitation for the first two groups. We establish the culture and ethos of the programme and provide outcome monitoring, and annual reporting.
Co-delivery, supervision, troubleshooting
✓ Long-term impact
Outcomes & Alignment with Your Priorities
Safe Arbour has demonstrated strong benefits for both mothers and young children. Commissioners and funders can trust its alignment with key priorities:
Outcomes for Mothers
Improvements in well-being, confidence, and emotional safety. Reductions in self-blame and shame.
Outcomes for Children (0–5)
Improvements in social-emotional and communication development.
More secure, playful relationships with their primary carer.
System & Policy Alignment
• Delivers on statutory duties for multi-agency early help and safeguarding.
Domestic Abuse Act (2021)[7]
• Meets the requirement to provide specialist support for victims and their children.
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) [8]
• Aligns with the national focus on critical early childhood development and attachment. First 1001 Days [9]
• Trauma-informed and relationship-based practice
The Business Case: Financial Viability
Why Fund Safe Arbour:
Meets statutory duties (Domestic Abuse Act 2021 [7] & Working together to safeguard children 2023 [8])
Prevents costly crisis interventions
Delivers evidenced outcomes
Scalable, sustainable model
Demonstrates value for public investment
Is Safe Arbour for Your Organisation?
1. Local Authorities & Commissioners
You need an evidence‑based programme that delivers measurable results for families to meet your statutory duties.
2. Domestic Abuse & Family Services
You run a refuge, children’s centre, or charity and want to offer a specialist group to complement your existing safety work.
3. Funders & Philanthropists
You want to fund scalable, high-impact work on abuse against mothers with children under six.
Not sure if this is you?
Common Questions from Partners
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Domestic abuse organisations, family hubs, children’s centres, NHS trusts, local authorities, and established charities.
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A safe, accessible venue; three trained facilitators and crèche staff; commitment to programme fidelity; robust safeguarding policies.
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Typically 2-6 months from initial contact to first programme.
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Annual license fee; materials per programme; local staffing costs; venue; and travel/food expenses for families.
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We fully support promotion of the first two groups, including recruiting families. Once Safe Arbour is established, referrals generally flow regularly.
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Comprehensive support includes co-facilitation of the first two groups. Ongoing support includes updated manuals, supervision sessions, and troubleshooting resources.
Ready to Transform Family Recovery in Your Area?
Whether you are a commissioner, a service provider, or a funder, the first step is a conversation. We understand that every organisation is different. An initial conversation is free and does not commit you to commissioning Safe Arbour.
References
[1]https://safelives.org.uk/news-views/response-to-da-commissioners-report-victims-in-their-own-right/
[2] Internal Link to Evaluation Report
[4]https://somersetdomesticabuse.org.uk/the-impact-of-domestic-abuse-on-mental-health-beyond-ptsd/
[7] https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/17/contents
[8] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2