“We are safe now and that is because of you and Alana House… I want everyone working at Alana House to know that you saved us.”
This powerful quote from an Alana House service user demonstrates the life-changing difference that the right support can make.
October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. It is a time to recognise the lasting impact domestic abuse can have on survivors and the courage it takes to begin the journey towards recovery.
The effects of domestic abuse often continue long after the abuse itself has ended. Many survivors struggle to understand what they have experienced and live with its impact even after reaching safety.
It is common for people to blame themselves or feel responsible for the actions of the person who harmed them. Some survivors also miss the person who abused them, grieving them and the relationship they had. They may not even recognise that what they experienced was abuse.
Domestic abuse can have a deep impact on self-esteem, confidence and emotional resilience. It can also cause a lack of trust in others and affect a person’s ability to make healthy choices. For children, domestic abuse can take away their sense of safety and affect relationships with those around them.
Recovery looks different for every individual and is rarely linear. Having access to specialist, non-judgemental support is a vital step in helping survivors make sense of their experiences and begin moving forward.
Through Alana House and Bounce Back 4 Kids (BB4K), PACT supports women, children and families at their own pace. Working in a safe, compassionate way, our teams provide expert guidance to help people understand what happened to them, process their experiences and explore their individual responses to trauma.
Through a mix of practical support, therapeutic interventions and specialist advocacy, we help survivors rebuild confidence and take positive steps towards the future. We envision a world where no one is defined by the trauma they’ve survived, and that every child, woman and family has the chance to recover, rebuild and belong.
This support can be life-changing. One Alana House service user said:
” I really couldn’t have done this without your support and the support of Alana House.
“The impact of years of psychological and emotional abuse left me uncertain of myself and worried about reaching out for help. Your support has been invaluable.”
Another survivor shared:
“There is something about you that made me feel safe, safe to open up to you. I will always remember that. If I had not had you, I would not be where I am now, and I would not have been able to leave and do everything I did.
“We are safe now and that is because of you and Alana House. I know so much more now through all the groups I have attended. I want everyone working at Alana House to know that you saved us.”
Domestic abuse can impact entire families. Through Bounce Back 4 Kids (BB4K), PACT helps children and parents understand their experiences, process difficult emotions and heal together.
One child who attended our BB4K programme said:
“Thank you for letting me come to talk about my feelings, play games and have lots of fun. I wish we could all come again!”
A BB4K parent remarked:
“Doing this Bounce Back course with my daughter has been one of the best things I’ve done. I was unsure at first, as I didn’t want to admit it had affected my girls so much. But I am so happy I did, as it has opened my eyes and given me and my daughter the tools to move forward.”
This Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, we recognise the strength of those who have experienced abuse and the importance of specialist support in helping people recover from trauma and rebuild their lives.
Could you or somebody you know benefit from support from Alana House or BB4K? Follow the links above to find out more about our services and how to make a referral.
