11-05-2025
Darlington set to benefit from new initiative to combat domestic abuse
A charity dedicated to breaking cycles of domestic abuse and giving babies the best start in life, has opened in Darlington.
Darlington and County Durham have become the latest areas to benefit from a new 'ground-breaking' initiative from the charity 'For Baby's Sake'.
This marks a major step in the charity's mission to support families experiencing domestic abuse and give babies the best start in life.
The North East has the highest reported rate of domestic abuse in England, with 19 incidents per 1,000 population, compared to the national average of 11, according to Health Equity North.
The Trust's expansion into the region is a direct response to these statistics.
The For Baby's Sake programme supports expectant and new parents from pregnancy until their baby is two years old.
It offers a trauma-informed, therapeutic approach that works with both parents- those experiencing abuse and those causing harm- aiming to create safe, nurturing environments for children.
The programme includes targeted modules for fathers, such as The Boy Code, which explores expectations around masculinity and addresses issues linked to men's mental health.
The expansion into County Durham and Darlington coincides with the Trust's 10th anniversary.
Over the past decade, the programme has supported thousands of families across England, aiming to break intergenerational cycles of domestic abuse.
The launch has been made possible through support from The Kering Foundation, The Hollyhock Foundation, The Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust and The Rothley Trust. Their funding has enabled the delivery of the programme to local families.
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top, Hilary Armstrong, said: 'I am delighted that For Baby's Sake are to work in the North East of England.
"Their intensive therapeutic support in working with struggling families is really effective in breaking the cycle of domestic abuse and giving babies the opportunity of a good start in life.
"These interventions mean fewer children are taken into the care system, because families are more able to cope and raise children.
"I want to see more evidence based work, and local and central government more committed to sticking with this early intervention for longer. The cost of not doing so is evident to children and to the taxpayer.'
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Céline Bonnaire, Executive Director of The Kering Foundation, said: 'Over the course of our 15 years of action to end gender-based violence, we have learned that protecting and caring for children is essential in preventing violence in adulthood.
"By supporting the expansion of For Baby's Sake, we aim to equip more families with the skills to cultivate healthy relationships in order to break the cycle of domestic abuse.'
Lauren Seager Smith, CEO of The For Baby's Sake Trust, said: "We are thrilled to be embedding For Baby's Sake across the North East. Our team are from the region and are passionate about making a tangible difference in the lives of local parents and babies.
"We are looking forward to growing our relationships with local agencies to deliver For Baby's Sake to families in County Durham and Darlington and contributing to existing efforts to combat rising levels of domestic abuse and violence."
