Bradford Survive and Thrive

More Information

Survive and Thrive is a partnership of three charities, Staying Put, Family Action and WomenCentre, who have successfully worked together since 2019, to provide a fully inclusive holistic domestic abuse service adopting a think family approach.

Together we offer early intervention and prevention, specialist work with children and young people, recovery and confidence building and packages of practical and emotional support, counselling (adults only) and access to high quality crisis support, accommodation and housing.

This support is available to anyone who lives in the Bradford District.

As a partnership we provide:

·      One Front Door helpline

·      Accommodation

·      Support for children and families

·      Counselling services

·      Early Intervention and Prevention

·      Professional referrals

For any of the above Survive and Thrive programmes call

0808 2800 999

Open Monday – Friday, 9.30am – 4:30pm (closed for half an hour lunch at 1pm)

Our One Front Door helpline is completely free and confidential, and the call will not show up on itemised bills.

Make a professional referral

Professional’s Handbook

Who do we support?

We offer support for children (0-18) and their families that have lived with domestic abuse. It is recognised that domestic abuse may have a long-term impact on children and young people, and recent changes in the law recognise that children who have witnessed domestic abuse are victims themselves.

For many children and young people domestic abuse can result in trauma that impacts on daily life functioning with symptoms such as:

• Anxiety
• Difficulty managing emotions
• Anger and aggression
• Low mood
• Disturbed sleep/nightmares
• Appearing withdrawn

How do we support?

We work with children, young people and their families to manage these symptoms and help parents, family members and professionals understand the impact of trauma and how they can support. Where we feel that children are sufficiently stable and are ready to process their trauma, we can offer sessions with our trauma therapist, who can further support children and young people through their journey of recovery.

Children and Young People who have experienced domestic abuse may also struggle to form and maintain positive relationships with family and friends. We work with families to strengthen relationships which have been affected by domestic abuse, helping them to find safe ways to express difficult thoughts, feelings and emotions, and to find solutions to problems together.

We are also able to support children and parents fleeing domestic abuse and living in refuge or dispersed accommodation. In addition to support around reducing trauma symptoms, we can offer family sessions based on Theraplay, which is designed to strengthen the bond between parents and under 5s, as this can be impacted by domestic abuse. We also deliver groups for children over 5 to help them to learn simple techniques to manage emotional responses and explore ways to keep minds and bodies healthy.

For children aged 13-17 who may have lived with, or may still be living with, abuse, our Young Person's IDVA can support around safety planning, managing trauma symptoms, identifying and reducing risky or harmful behaviours and developing healthy and respectful relationships, with the aim of building resilience, increasing confidence and developing problem solving skills, as well as advocating for the young person and ensuring their voice is heard.