The For Babys’ Sake Trust is working in partnership with Essex County Council to deliver a whole-family programme that supports parents to break cycles of domestic abuse and create a safe, nurturing start for their babies and young children. Together, Essex County Council and The For Baby’s Sake Trust are jointly funding support for 16 families across the county.
Domestic abuse remains a challenge in Essex:
24,456 domestic abuse incidents were recorded by Essex Police from November 2022 to October 2023, making it the highest number in the East of England. [Source: Essex Police Freedom of Information report]
In the 2021–22 period, domestic abuse made up 33% of all violent crime in Essex, with 24,284 related incidents; a 5.4% increase year‑on‑year. [Source: Essex Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner]
Over 2,000 babies (aged 0-2) are referred to children’s social care in Essex every year with domestic abuse as a factor. An average of 50 babies enter care every year in the region with domestic abuse as a factor. [Source: Essex Social Care Freedom of Information report]
This support builds on early support from the Essex Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner’s office, which enabled the Trust to refine referral pathways and support a cohort of parents across the region. The new partnership 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.
Lauren Seager-Smith, CEO at The For Baby’s Sake Trust, welcomed the partnership:
“We are thrilled to be working with Essex County Council to deliver For Baby’s Sake in the region. This investment demonstrates a bold commitment to early intervention and a belief in the potential for change, even where families have faced complex trauma and abuse. By funding For Baby’s Sake, Essex County Council is taking meaningful action to protect babies from harm and ensure they have the best possible start in life. We are proud to be working together to bring about lasting change for families across Essex.”
The programme aligns with the Government’s new Best Start in Life strategy, which recognises the critical importance of a child’s earliest years in shaping lifelong outcomes. By investing in targeted, trauma-informed support during the perinatal period, Essex County Council and The For Baby’s Sake Trust aim to help families lay strong foundations for their children’s emotional and developmental wellbeing. For Baby’s Sake contributes directly to these national aims by supporting parents during pregnancy and beyond to build safe, nurturing relationships and break harmful intergenerational cycles.
Councillor John Spence, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Adult Social Care, Public Health and Integration at Essex County Council said:
“By partnering with The For Baby’s Sake Trust, we are investing in early, intensive support that gives parents the tools to change their lives and protect their children. Every child in Essex deserves a safe, nurturing start, and this programme helps us make that a reality. We are proud to back an approach that is evidence‑based, compassionate and focused on long‑term change for families across our county.”
The partnership with Essex County Council comes at a time of growth for The For Baby’s Sake Trust, with increasing awareness of the impact of domestic abuse on babies and children, and recognition of the programme’s effectiveness in supporting families affected by domestic abuse. This latest partnership builds on commitments from local authorities in London, as well as investment from national funders like Comic Relief and the Critical 1001 Days Foundation.
