Breaking the Cycle: Eloise and Peter’s Story

Eloise and Peter were determined to break the cycle of domestic abuse that had impacted their families for generations.

When they first met, life was far from easy. Peter had an extensive history of criminal activity, including over 40 convictions, and had spent time in prison. He was considered by services to be a significant risk to women and children. Eloise, meanwhile, had already experienced years of abuse in previous relationships. She was struggling with anxiety and an eating disorder, and her children showed the effects of the trauma they had all endured.

When Eloise became pregnant, Children’s Social Care began preparing to take her baby and children into care because of the high risks involved. The couple felt hopeless and feared they would lose everything. Both had grown up with trauma themselves and were desperate not to repeat that cycle for their baby.

That’s when they found For Baby’s Sake.

It is funding from organisations such as the 1001 Critical Days Foundation that has helped make it possible for Eloise and Peter to access this specialist programme, which works with both parents to address the root causes of abuse and trauma. For the first time, they now feel supported rather than judged.

Through respectful, long-term relationships with their practitioners at The For Baby’s Sake Trust, Peter is learning to recognise and manage his overwhelming feelings. By reflecting on his own childhood experiences, he is beginning to understand the impact they were having on his behaviour as a partner and father. He is finding new ways to cope without violence or aggression. Eloise, too, is receiving support to build confidence, recognise her strengths as a mother, and develop healthier strategies for coping with stress and anxiety.

Through intensive and ongoing support, the family’s life is being transformed. The cycle of abuse is beginning to break. Children’s Social Care have now stepped back and Eloise and Peter’s baby and children can remain safely at home. The couple’s confidence as parents is growing and they are working hard to give their children a more stable and brighter future.

Eloise reflects: “We will forever be grateful to the For Baby’s Sake programme. Without it, we wouldn’t have been given a chance to show how differently we could live, and be, and how we have changed for our children. We absolutely believe this programme should be in every town and city, to support parents like us who just need some help and an opportunity to change.”

This is the difference that charity funding can make. By supporting programmes like For Baby’s Sake, the 1001 Critical Days Foundation is helping families to overcome trauma and ensuring babies can experience the best start in life.

Our next grants window opens later in October and runs until mid-December. If you’re a charity supporting babies and their caregivers in Family Hubs or similar settings, keep an eye out for details on how to apply and partner with us to give more babies the best start in life.