05/06/2025
Chris English
The Chrysalis Centre is proud to introduce our first ‘Provider of the Month’ – a spotlight initiative celebrating the impactful work of our partner organisations across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. For June, we are honoured to highlight the incredible team at For Baby’s Sake and the transformational difference they are making to families affected by domestic abuse.
“When the Offices of the Police & Crime Commissioners for Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire invited us to be part of the Chrysalis Centre, we jumped at the opportunity. The vision to create a national centre of excellence in working with those wanting to change behaviour and end domestic abuse aligned strongly with our For Baby’s Sake model.
Those creating the Chrysalis Centre were committed to harnessing motivations to change and reducing barriers to help-seeking through a holistic, non-judgmental approach. With Home Office backing and funding, multi-agency partners are driving evidence-based innovation and tailored support to tackle the root causes of domestic abuse and build new life chances. The For Baby’s Sake Trust contributes operationally and strategically.
Since the launch of Chrysalis in April 2023, For Baby’s Sake has supported nearly 400 people across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, including fathers, mothers, babies and other children in the family. We provide intensive, long-term therapeutic support to break cycles of domestic abuse and give children the best start in life. Both parents join during pregnancy, whether or not they are a couple. Each parent has their own therapeutic practitioner, and they can be supported until their baby’s second birthday. These families include the father who said: ‘I’ve felt embarrassment, shame and guilt when thinking about my past behaviours but my For Baby’s Sake Therapeutic Practitioner helps me realise owning it means it can only get better.’
Our parents are driven by the desire to give their babies the best start, as this father said: ‘I’m determined and motivated my girls won’t feel how I did around my dad. I want my girls not to worry about my response and to feel comfortable to approach me about anything.’ We launched For Baby’s Sake 10 years ago in Hertfordshire and London. An evaluation by King’s College London concluded it is the first known programme in the world to address the limitations of whole-family responses to domestic abuse. We recognised the importance of multi-agency working when designing the programme, and collaborated with partners in Hertfordshire, knowing that safeguarding children and adults requires strong teamwork and trusting relationships. Chrysalis is the latest phase of our partnership work in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, which began during COVID-19.
Strategically, we are sharing our innovation and learning with other Chrysalis partners and participating in academic evaluation. This includes work on tailored engagement strategies, risk-need-responsivity models, and trauma-informed practice that connects recovery from past trauma with responsibility for current behaviour. One dad shared: ‘I realised for the first time in my life, my childhood was not my fault. Being able to look back, it’s such a relief. Understanding where my feelings come from and not needing to do things because of my childhood. I can make adult choices.’
Chrysalis partners also recognise the need for support for those using abusive behaviours. Evidence shows that the adults and children experiencing the abuse often want effective support for those using abusive behaviours. We believe that working with those using abusive behaviours is crucial in supporting the government to meet their target of halving VAWG in a decade.
‘For Baby’s Sake has been amazing and brilliant, I wish more people could benefit from it, it stops DA in relationships and brings an awareness of the impact of toxic behaviour on children – it really is For Baby’s Sake. You were always there for me you’ve been a blessing. – — Mother supported by For Baby’s Sake
Celebrating 10 Years of For Baby’s Sake – Watch their short anniversary film featuring powerful stories from parents: Watch on YouTube
If you or someone you know who is based in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire needs support with breaking harmful behaviours in a family or romantic relationship, please click here and complete a referral for more support.
If you have any questions or would like to work with The Chrysalis Centre, please email Justine.blakeman@rsg.ltd (Operations Manager of The Chrysalis Centre) or stephanie.edwards@rsg.ltd (Contracts Manager) for more information.