The For Baby's Sake Trust

To mark the 10th anniversary of For Baby's Sake, we partnered with award-winning filmmaker Joyce Nicholls to tell the powerful story of our journey so far. This short film marks a decade of delivering our ground-breaking programme that works with both parents to break cycles of domestic abuse and give babies the best start in life. Through the voices of our team, and parents who have taken part in For Baby's Sake, we reflect on our impact and look ahead to the future. A huge thank you to those who shared their voices and experiences. 🎬 joycenicholls.com 🔗 Learn more: forbabyssake.org.uk/our-10th-anniv… #BreakTheCycle

Caring about children's rights means caring about the rights of every child. That's why we're standing with @AsylumMatters, speaking out against new rules that put thousands of migrant and refugee children in the UK at risk of poverty, homelessness and trauma. In a letter to the Prime Minister, nearly 150 children’s charities and organisations working with babies and children warn recently announced Home Office proposals would put hundreds of thousands of children, as well as young adults leaving care, at risk. At The For Baby's Sake Trust, we know how often experiences of domestic abuse intersect with poverty, housing insecurity and trauma, particularly for families already facing the challenges of the asylum system. For babies, these overlapping pressures can have a profound impact on their safety, development and future outcomes, making it vital that policies protect those most at risk. Read more, and see the full letter here: asylummatters.org/2026/04/27/a-m… #BreakTheCycle

We’ve just launched a brand new training workshop for professionals interested in understanding the impact of domestic abuse on unborn babies, babies and children. This two-hour workshop aims to raise awareness about the impact of domestic abuse on babies and children. This workshop directly supports the expectations set out in Families First and Best Start in Life guidance by equipping professionals across Best Start Family Hubs, education, safeguarding partnerships and front door services to better recognise, respond to, and safely address domestic abuse as a key driver of harm in the earliest years. We hope to empower attendees to create safer environments for affected babies, children, and young people. 📅21st of May and 9th of June 🖥️ 2 hours, online, via Teams 🎟️ Book now on Eventbrite, spots are £30 + VAT + booking fee ⭐ May bookings: bit.ly/4rXxb7l ⭐ June bookings: bit.ly/4tarS5w #Training #Workshop #Babies #InfantDevelopment #Intervention #BreakTheCycle

We’re so proud to share this powerful film that we've created with Comic Relief👇 youtube.com/watch?v=KFCQgU… A huge thank you to @comicrelief for supporting our work, and to the parents who trusted us with their story 💜 We hope this helps parents across the UK to understand that, with the right support, change is possible. #BreakTheCycle #ComicRelief #RedNoseDay

Don't miss your chance to book tickets to our next workshop with @SeedTalks! Coercive control is a pattern of behaviours designed to dominate, isolate, and entrap another person. It often operates subtly, gradually, and invisibly, making it difficult to recognise, name, and challenge. This session will provide opportunities for reflection, learning, and practical application. 📅 March 23, 6.30PM 💻 Online 🎫 Book here: bit.ly/4arG2r9 #BreakTheCycle

A huge thank you to @mayaellisuk MP, Chair of the APPG on Babies, for highlighting the importance of healthy relationships and spotlighting the prevalence of domestic abuse in the early years during yesterday’s Westminster Hall debate. 🗣️ "When it comes to British policy, the role of relationships is too often an afterthought, and yet they are the building blocks of a healthy society… it's time that relationships become a political obsession." At The For Baby’s Sake Trust, we see this every day. Relationships are not a ‘soft’ issue. They are foundational. They shape brain development and lifelong outcomes. Domestic abuse is not just a criminal justice issue. It is a public health issue. A maternal mental health issue. An infant development issue. An education issue. An economic issue. Pregnancy and the first 1001 days are a period of extraordinary opportunity, but also profound vulnerability. We must invest in whole-family support during pregnancy and early childhood, supporting parents to break cycles of domestic abuse and give their babies the best possible start in life. #BreakTheCycle

If you were a victim of coercive control, would you know it? This workshop with @SeedTalks, led by Judith Rees, Chief Operations Officer at The For Baby’s Sake Trust, explores how coercive control works psychologically. Dive into the profound impact it has on emotional safety, identity, parenting, and early relationships. This session will provide opportunities for reflection, learning, and practical application. 📅 March 23, 6.30PM 💻 Online 🎫 Book here: bit.ly/4arG2r9 #BreakTheCycle

Could you be our next Trustee? As we enter an exciting phase of growth and impact, we are seeking new Trustees to join our committed Board and help shape the Trust’s strategic direction. We welcome applications from people who share our values and passion for early intervention, trauma-informed practice, and creating safer futures for babies and families. To complement our existing Board, we would particularly welcome candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas: ▶️Professional experience within social care, domestic abuse services, or family support ▶️Commissioning, public-sector leadership, or local authority partnerships ▶️Financial management ▶️Charity governance ✉️ How to apply: Send a CV and cover letter to recruitment@forbabyssake.org.uk ⏰ Deadline: 1 March 2026 💼 Find out more here: forbabyssake.org.uk/jobs #BreakTheCycle #Trustee #Board #Recruitment

What happens when trauma and adversity shape family life across generations? Many parents, babies, children and young people involved in care proceedings have experienced significant trauma. With holistic, compassionate and consistent support, families can heal, stay safe and thrive. Join For Baby’s Sake Trust, @NYASServices (National Youth Advocacy Service) and Birth Companions for a collaborative webinar sharing learning, practice insights and emerging solutions to better support those with lived experience of the care system who go on to have social care involvement with their own children. 🔗 Register now: @a37ef141-e029-4cae-a74a-121e6e6e4fed" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f67bc923…

It's LGBTQ+ History Month 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Domestic abuse affects significant numbers of people across LGBTQ+ communities. 20% of LGBTQ+ people in the UK have experienced domestic abuse from a partner, and yet, insights from Stonewall show that only 1 in 8 LGBTQ+ individuals who experienced violence or abuse reported the incident to the police. With significant levels of underreporting, domestic abuse in LGBTQ+ relationships remains a serious and often hidden issue. Stonewall reports that: ➡️25% of lesbian and bisexual women have experienced domestic abuse in the UK ➡️40% of gay and bisexual men have experienced domestic abuse in the UK ➡️28% of trans people have experienced domestic abuse in the UK This LGBTQ+ History Month, we stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people experiencing domestic abuse and reaffirm the importance of recognising abuse in all relationships and ensuring support is inclusive, affirming, and accessible. 💬 Support is available: Galop - National Helpline for LGBT+ Victims and Survivors of Abuse and Violence 📞0800 999 5428 Switchboard - National LGBTQ+ support line 📞 0800 0119 100

We're delighted to announce that we're now working in partnership with @Essex_CC! Our new partnership with Essex County Council will bring For Baby’s Sake to more families in Essex, offering intensive, therapeutic support starting in pregnancy and continuing through a child’s early years. Read more here: forbabyssake.org.uk/news/2026/02/0… #BreakTheCycle #Essex #VAWG #EarlyIntervention #Prevention

You can now listen to our podcast with the wonderful Social Matters team here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/epi… Thank you so much to Social Matters for platforming our work! #BreakTheCycle #EarlyIntervention #Prevention #VAWG

We welcome the government report into the multi-agency response to children affected by domestic abuse. It’s vital that babies and children are recognised as victims in their own right and that responses are child-centred, whole-family and rooted in early intervention, particularly given the heightened risk of domestic abuse during pregnancy and the reality of post-separation abuse. At For Baby’s Sake Trust, we provide trauma-informed, whole-family support from pregnancy onwards to help break cycles of abuse. We urge local areas to reflect on their approaches and ensure babies and children are truly seen and supported from the very beginning. #ForBabysSakeTrust #DomesticAbuseAwareness #EarlyIntervention #TraumaInformed

Want to stay up to date with our work? Our newsletter is a round-up of news, insights, events and resources from For Baby’s Sake Trust, all in one place, straight to your inbox. 📩 Sign up here: bit.ly/4qIi3eb #BreakTheCycle #StayInTheLoop #DomesticAbuseAwareness

Despite changes introduced by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, many strategic leaders still do not fully recognise the needs of children who are victims of domestic abuse. This lack of recognition directly affects how children are supported and leads to ineffective commissioning that fails to meet their needs. At For Baby’s Sake Trust, we provide trauma-informed, whole-family support from pregnancy onwards to help break cycles of abuse. We urge local governments to reflect on their approaches and ensure babies and children are truly seen and supported from the very beginning. #DomesticAbuseAwareness #BreakTheCycle

📢 Upcoming webinar: Supporting families through and beyond the care system Many parents, babies, children and young people involved in care proceedings have experienced high levels of trauma and adversity which is often repeated across generations. When agencies work holistically, compassionately and consistently, families can be supported to heal, stay safe and thrive. Join For Baby’s Sake Trust, @NYASServices and The Birth Companions Institute for a collaborative webinar coming together to reflect on these issues and share learning, practice insights and emerging solutions for improving the care and support provided to those who have experienced the care system, and go on to have social care involvement for their own children. 🔗 Register now: @a37ef141-e029-4cae-a74a-121e6e6e4fed" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f67bc923… #ForBabysSakeTrust #NYAS #BirthCompanions #TraumaInformedPractice

It’s important to understand that abuse can and does happen during pregnancy. It can take many forms — including physical harm, emotional abuse, financial abuse and coercive control — and can affect both parent and baby. Abuse is often hidden, but support is available. If you need support: ➡️Talk to a healthcare professional you trust, such as your midwife, GP or health visitor. ➡️You can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247). ➡️If you are in immediate danger, call 999. ➡️You can also self-refer to For Baby’s Sake if we have teams in your area. #ForBabysSake #DomesticAbuseAwareness #PregnancySupport #TraumaInformed #BreakingTheCycle #SupportDuringPregnancy

Last week, our CEO, Lauren Seager-Smith, joined the brilliant Social Matters team to record a podcast, and we can’t wait for the episode to be released. Watch this space — we’ll be sharing more very soon 🎙️✨ A huge thank you to Social Matters for amplifying conversations about domestic abuse in the perinatal period. #BreakTheCycle

💡 Vital research drop alert 💡 Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that babies and very young children who are exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) are significantly affected in their early development: ifs.org.uk/publications/i… The study found that when a child is exposed to ongoing IPV between birth and age four, their cognitive and social-emotional development can fall behind. A child who is developing at an average level at six months old could drop by 6–7 percentiles by the time they reach school age. Crucially, the researchers highlight that: ▶️ Support for parent–child relationships ▶️ Support for maternal mental health ▶️ And stopping IPV as early as possible are all essential to protecting children’s development. At The For Baby’s Sake Trust, we work with families from pregnancy until a baby’s second birthday to help break cycles of domestic abuse. This early window is a critical opportunity to make a lasting difference. If we are serious about improving outcomes for children, we must prioritise early, joined-up support for babies, parents and families during the perinatal period. #BreakTheCycle #IPV #DA #VAWG #EarlyYears #EarlyChildDevelopment #Intervention #Prevention #Research #MaternalMentalHealth #Pregnancy

Our friends at @WordsMatter_ have launched an excellent free online course for parents to support positive verbal communication with children - from unborn babies through to teenagers. It’s really easy to access, with lots of practical advice to help adults communicate in ways that build children’s confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing. Check it out below 👇 futurelearn.com/courses/words-…