Creative Wellbeing Programme for Children with Experience of Domestic Abuse

This autumn Croydon Council’s Creative Health team is launching a new after-school programme to support children aged 5-10 who have experienced domestic abuse.

Taking place each term, this 10-week programme will offer weekly sessions using age appropriate creative drama and music activities to improve participants’ wellbeing, confidence, emotional literacy and understanding of healthy relationships, while developing supportive peer groups for children and non-abusive parents.

This is a recovery programme for children who are no longer experiencing abuse.
To take part, children must fall into one of the following two categories:

• If no longer residing with the alleged perpetrator, no abuse may have
  been experienced since the change in living circumstances, and at
  least for one month.
• If currently residing with the alleged perpetrator, the family must have
  engaged with statutory services (social care and/or social worker) to
  address abusive behaviour AND no abuse may have occurred in the
  previous six months.

Travel support, refreshments (during sessions) and dinner (able to be taken home) will be provided.

Parent/carers are invited to stay for an informal session in the next room to meet other parents/carers, hear about what the children are up to, and receive signposting to further available support.

Schools and parents can refer children they think would benefit from the programme using the information provided below. Registration and confirmation of place are required to take part.

Referral Documents

• Recruitment Flyer
• Referral Criteria & Procedures
• Referral Form – Professionals NB: If a parent wishes to refer their child without a professional referral, please do not complete this form, and instead use the contact details below to speak to the team about your child taking part.

Please contact CreativeHealth@Croydon.gov.uk for further information.