In school pastoral work, family support sessions or child-focused domestic abuse work, the workbook gives children and younger teenagers a gentle structure for beginning conversations that can otherwise feel difficult. It is likely to suit social workers, domestic abuse support workers, family support practitioners, counsellors, teachers and trusted adults supporting kids or teens who have experienced domestic abuse at home.
The early activities include an “All About Me” page with prompts for age, home life, friends, favourite food, colour, animal, books, activities, what the child enjoys watching, what they are good at and what they might want to be when they grow up. These simple prompts can help a practitioner build rapport, notice strengths and interests, and give the young person a safer starting point before moving into more sensitive domestic abuse discussion.
A dedicated activity asks “What is Domestic Abuse?” with a large blank space for drawing, writing or talking through ideas. This could be used flexibly in a session, for example by asking a child to write words they have heard, draw feelings, name worries, or record what they understand about arguments, fear, control and unsafe behaviour in the home.
The healthy relationship wordsearch introduces positive relationship vocabulary including caring, support, respect, fun, love, trust and kind. For children who need a less direct activity, the wordsearch offers a practical way to talk about safe relationships, friendship, family relationships and what respectful behaviour looks like.
Later content shown includes a Power and Control wheel covering emotional abuse, sexual abuse, isolation, coercion and threats, using children, gender roles and stereotypes, economic abuse, and minimising, denying and blaming, alongside a Teen Equality Wheel with themes such as communication, negotiation and fairness, respect, trust and support, honesty and accountability, shared power and personal growth. The workbook is branded by Cheshire West & Chester Council, with West Cheshire Children’s Trust and Cheshire West & Chester Community Safety Partnership logos shown.
