Domestic abuse charity encourages children to reach out over summer holidays
Society Without Abuse currently supports around 50 children
Last updated 6th Aug 2025
While most school children are enjoying the time off, a charity is highlighting the strain the summer holidays can have on some young people.
They say it is often children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse who are dreading the holidays.
Many of them regard school as a safe space – and being away from that for six weeks can be difficult.
Emma Laclennan, Children and Families Manager at Society Without Abuse, told Greatest Hits Radio: “We must remember that in lots of households where there's domestic abuse, there is a non-abusing parent that wants to do the very best for their child and isn’t able to do that because of the abusive behaviour that's happened.
“So, for that parent if they can just to try and reach out for help, whether that be with friends, whether that be with family or be with an agency like ourselves just to chat to someone about it and see whether there's places that they can be signposted to seek further help.
“And for the children it's about for those parents that want to be there for their child to try and get out and about from home and just spend some quality time together.”
For children, she added, the most important thing is to talk about how they feel.
“If you're worried about anything, if you're unhappy, if you're upset, if you've got worries, tell someone that you feel like you can trust”, Ms Maclennan urged.
“You know whether that be your mummy, your daddy, your nanny, your granddad or an auntie. Or you can always phone ChildLine and they're there to help and to be there for you to talk to.
“But please, please try and share because that will only make it better.”
She also encouraged anyone who might know someone who lives in an abusive household should remember not to judge but instead try to support the children and non-abusive parent.
“The hardest thing to do when you're in a domestic abusive relationship is leave that relationship. There's so many reasons which we could talk about for a long time why it's so difficult for a person to leave a relationship, and I think that is hugely underestimated.
“So, please don't say ‘Why don't you just leave?’ but please understand that it's difficult to leave. Just be there to support and to help them go and speak to someone.”