Mother And Child Domestic Abuse Support
DART Programme & Empowering Mums Course
Helping you and your children recover, communicate and rebuild after domestic abuse.
How we can help
At My Sisters’ House we offer two courses aimed at helping Mums and children recover and rebuild after domestic abuse.
Both courses are run by the same wonderful DART team in the Bognor Regis and Chichester and Arun areas.
Empowering Mums Course
DART Programme
Empowering Mums Course
For Mums who have experienced domestic abuse
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At My Sisters' House Women's Centre, we offer a two-week course which helps mums build confidence and understand the impact of domestic abuse on parenting and mental health. It provides tools to recognise children’s behaviours, understand their needs, and support them effectively.
Mums will also be introduced to the NSPCC's established DART (Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together) programme, learning it's aims and how to support their child through it.
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Understand the impact of domestic abuse on parenting
Reduce guilt and shame
Recognise links between trauma and neurological conditions
Understand children’s needs, behaviours, and responses
Gain practical parenting tools
Build confidence and empowerment as a mum
Learn about the DART programme’s aims and expectations
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This course is for mums only (not children) and is open to those who have experienced domestic abuse. However, due to high demand for the course, priority will be given to mums with an accepted DART referral.
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If you want to know more about this course or our DART programme, how to access it and what it can mean for you and your children, please complete the DART application found at the bottom of this page. Once we have received this - our team will be in touch.
2. DART programme
DART (Domestic Abuse Recovering Togther)has been developed by NSPCC and is delivered by our experienced team at My Sisters’ House Women’s Centre.
NSPCC and My Sisters’ house understand that experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse can have a long-lasting impact on a child’s development, educational outcomes and mental health.
It can also impact your relationship with them.
How does DART work?
Over ten weeks, mothers and children aged 7-14 meet for a weekly two-hour group session.
You'll meet with a small group of women and children in the same situation as you, working together and separately to unravel the impact of abuse on your family.
Children take part in activities together that help them build their own understanding of domestic abuse and how they’re feeling.
You will learn more about:
Healthy relationships and how to break patterns
Building self-esteem and confidence
Expressing feelings and managing emotions
Strategies that you can use at home
Who is eligible for DART?
our DART course is open for women who are no longer in an abusive environment, and who have children aged between 7-14 years old.
This course is run for a mother and one child. If you have more than one child, you are welcome to chat to the team about completing the course more than once.
Watch a short video from NSPCC explaining DART
You can find out more including evaluations of the effectiveness of the programme and the positive impact on women and their children on the NSPCC website.
Find out more: NSPCC website
Before Applying:
Before you submit your application, please do have a read of our DART Frequently Asked Questions about the application and assessment process, what happens on the course and more.
How to Apply for DART & Empowering Mums Course.
If you’d like to join either of these courses, or are a professional referring a client, please complete this Referral form.
After receiving your form we’ll arrange to meet you and assess how and if DART can help you.
If you would like more information:
If you have any questions about the DART programme or Empowering Mums Course, what’s involved and what you could gain from taking part, please do not hesitate to contact the DART team direct:
Email DART@mysistershouse.info
Phone: 01243 697800 and ask for the DART Team.
More information about DART:
Letters from past DART clients, to future ones…
Dear Future Group,
You are probably really nervous; I was too when I first started, but I am now really happy and I am really confident. I hope you feel like that by the end of your group and the activities are so fun.
Be confident in yourself!
You’re amazing
You’re so strong.
— Child, DART Client
To the next group,
Don't be nervous, I know I was!!
Keep going, it is hard at first but it's the only course I've been on that talks openly about domestic abuse on a child's level.
It is now not a taboo subject and me an my child can talk about past events and work through them.
My bond with my child is stronger now and I know it will keep getting stronger as long as we keep talking!