Domestic Abuse Support Service for Children
ABOUT US
The Recess Project
The Recess Project is dedicated to providing support to children aged 4-11 living with parental domestic abuse, by providing them with a safe and nurturing space to explore their feelings, build confidence, and learn about healthy relationships. We understand the profound impact that domestic abuse can have on a child's emotional and social development, and we are committed to offering structured, age-appropriate programmes that combine art, play therapy, and guided group activities. Our aim is not only to help children process their experiences, but also to empower them and their survivor parents to build resilience, trust, and stronger family bonds. Through our dedicated trained staff team, we strive to create a supportive community where every child who attends The Recess Programme feels safe, heard, and valued.
Our vision is a world where every child affected by domestic abuse can feel safe, valued, and empowered to thrive. We are committed to nurturing resilience, confidence, and trust in children while supporting survivor parents in building strong family connections. Our work is guided by values of safety, empathy, respect, inclusivity, and integrity, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to explore their thoughts and emotions in a secure, non-judgmental environment. We endeavour to deliver our program with professionalism, compassion, and accountability, always prioritising the best interests of the children and families we serve.
The Recess Project was founded in 2026, by two survivors of domestic abuse who share a passion to help survivors who are currently living with domestic abuse. Ivina Joseph and Sardia Joseph identified a gap in services for children who are currently living with parental domestic abuse and decided to do something about this to better local communities, by setting up a service providing support to fill that gap in order to benefits the lives of survivors of domestic abuse.
We are a non-profit organisation who hope to work closely with local authorities, schools, charities, and funders in order to deliver The Recess Program effectively their local communities. These partnerships will help us extend our reach and provide children and families with comprehensive, trusted support.
The Recess Program
The Recess Program is a 12 week programme that consist of 10 weeks support groups for children aged 4-11 years old, split into three age-appropriate groups. Each weekly session combines structured discussions, play and creative activities to help children process their experience of domestic abuse in a safe, supportive environment. They will be one Family Bonding Trip per cohort in week 11, to build resilience between the children and survivor parent; Week 12 is for evaluations, reviewing and reporting.
We aim to teach children about healthy relationships and general safety by provide a safe space for them to explore their thoughts and feelings, and build resilience, confidence and also help the children build trust in themselves and others. Our holistic approach considers emotional, social, and practical aspects of each child's wellbeing.
Children are grouped according to age to ensure activities and discussions are suitable and effective. Each group runs concurrently, with facilitators trained to adapt content for developmental needs and engagement levels.
In week 11, children and their survivor parents take part in a family bonding activity, providing an opportunity to strengthen family relationships, celebrate progress, and apply skills learned during the program in a positive, shared experience. Perpetrators cannot attend the trip to ensure a safe and supportive environment for participants. The Recess Project limits their staff interactions with perpetrators, only allowing them to drop off and collect their children from sessions, if agreed with the survivor parent in circumstances relating to ill health, work commitments or other child care responsibilities.
The Recess Facilitator Volunteer Opportunties
We welcome volunteers to support sessions, with full training provided. Volunteers are reimbursed for travel expenses and play a key role in delivering safe, engaging, and effective programmes.
The Recess Project ask all Volunteers to be committed to attend the full 12 week Recess Program which consist of 2 hours of a volunteers time per week. Group sessions will be held for 2 hours consecutive between the time of 3:30pm-7:30pm on one day during Monday-Friday. The venue, day and time of volunteering opportunities will be confirmed during the interview process.
All volunteers will need to undergo a enhanced DBS Check before actively participating in the Recess Facilitator Volunteers Opportunities.
Volunteers will learn how to facilitator the The Recess Program through observation, practical tasks and leading on some pre-structure activities (supervised by the main Program Facilitators) during group sessions.
All volunteers will be managed and attend supervisions with either The Recess Project Director or Co-Founder.
OUR TEAM
Our team is comprised of dedicated individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children. Each member brings unique skills and experiences to our organisation, contributing to providing unwavering support to Children In Need and Survivors Of Domestic Abuse.
Ivina Joseph
Co-Founder / Program Facilitator
Sardia Joseph
Director / Program Facilitator