In January this year, West Mercia Women’s Aid’s Children and Young People’s Team launched the STAR Recovery Programme for children aged 4–6 years who have experienced domestic abuse within their family.
STAR – which stands for Safety, Trust and Respect – was developed by Welsh Women’s Aid to support young children who have witnessed domestic abuse and help them begin their recovery journey in a safe, nurturing and age-appropriate way.
Domestic abuse can have a profound impact on children, even when they are not directly targeted. Young children may struggle to understand what has happened, feel confused about their experiences, or find it difficult to express their emotions. The STAR programme provides a space where children can explore these feelings and begin to rebuild their sense of safety.
Delivered over ten weekly group sessions, the programme helps children to:
- Understand what has happened in their family and recognise that it is not their fault
- Learn that they have the right to live free from violence and abuse
- Feel safer and develop personal safety strategies
- Build supportive relationships and networks
- Understand the importance of self-care
- Increase confidence and self-esteem
- Explore feelings and emotions in a safe and supportive environment
Sessions are designed specifically for younger children and use a range of engaging activities, including therapeutic play, storytelling, arts and crafts, singing, videos and group discussions. Through play and creativity, children are able to express themselves in ways that feel natural and accessible.
An important part of the programme focuses on strengthening the relationship between children and their non-abusive parent or carer. Domestic abuse can often damage these relationships, affecting trust, communication and emotional connection. STAR helps families rebuild those bonds once the abuse has ceased.
Throughout the programme, parents and carers are invited to participate in selected activities with their children, creating opportunities for shared nurturing experiences. After each session, they also receive guidance and practical ideas to continue conversations and activities at home.
Following the delivery of our first STAR groups, we have seen first-hand the positive impact the programme can have – not only for children, but for parents and carers too.
Many parents reported feeling more confident in supporting their child’s recovery and gained a greater understanding of the therapeutic tools available to them. The programme helped them recognise that simple activities such as play, creativity and quality time together can play a significant role in helping children heal.
One parent told us:
“My daughter cared about the other children attending the group and was always excited to go. She kept asking why it had finished and she couldn’t go anymore.”
Another shared:
“It was great that my son got to bring everything home. We’ve looked at it together and he’s shown it to other family members too. It was really nice to look at his memories together.”
A third parent reflected:
“Both of my children settled into the group really quickly and looked forward to coming every week. As a mum, this was really reassuring because it showed me they felt safe and comfortable. They regularly asked if they were being picked up early to come to STAR.”
These comments demonstrate the difference that early intervention and specialist support can make.
Recovery from domestic abuse is a journey, and children need support just as much as adults do. Through programmes like STAR, we can help young children understand their experiences, rebuild confidence, strengthen family relationships and move forward with hope.
We are incredibly proud of the children, parents and carers who took part in our first STAR groups and look forward to supporting many more families in the future.
Find out more about our Support for Children and Young People.