As 2025 draws to a close, we’ve taken time to reflect on what has been a landmark year for EdShift. It has been a year shaped by growth, learning, celebration, and deepened impact, and one that has brought clarity to who we are and why we do what we do. Central to this year was the formalisation of EdShift’s mission and purpose, developed by our Trustees as part of our transition to a registered charity:

“Through the power of the arts EdShift gives children and young people affected by domestic abuse a voice. By providing specialist support, we help them to live healthy, meaningful lives and build safe, loving relationships. Together, we are a force for change.”

Alongside our tagline — “Where the arts and young lives unite, creating a world beyond domestic abuse” — this mission has become the foundation for everything we do. In 2025, we focused on putting these words into action, embedding our values across programmes, partnerships, and community engagement.

Connecting Professionals and Communities

Throughout the year, EdShift Networking events brought together professionals, creatives, educators, and advocates to share learning, build relationships, and strengthen collective responses to domestic abuse. These spaces reflected our belief in collaboration and the power of community to create safer environments for children and young people. A standout moment was our International Women’s Day networking event, where we welcomed 15 young girls from Ryburn Valley High School to celebrate women’s leadership, resilience, and advocacy. Through round-table discussions, inspiring speakers, and a creative wellbeing activity, the event encouraged reflection on gender equity and the role communities play in preventing abuse. And, to mark International Women’s Day more widely, our CEO also delivered a keynote at Blackburn College, reinforcing EdShift’s commitment to supporting young people to build safe, healthy relationships through creativity and specialist intervention.

Celebration with Purpose: The Hoedown and Our 6-Year Anniversary

2025 was also a year of celebration. Our first annual Hoedown family fundraising event, held at The Roxy in Sowerby Bridge, brought communities together in true EdShift style, combining creativity, connection, and fun with purpose. Featuring live performers and line dancing, the event raised over £1,800, directly supporting our work with children and young people affected by domestic abuse. The Hoedown also coincided with an important milestone: EdShift’s 6-year anniversary. From grassroots beginnings to becoming an established charity with a clear mission and growing reach, this anniversary marked how far the organisation has come, and reaffirmed our commitment to giving children and young people a voice.

16 Days of Action: Awareness Through Creativity

During the 16 Days of Action Against Gender-Based Violence ], EdShift used creativity to spark conversation and challenge harmful relationship behaviours. Our “Is this love?” quiz encouraged young people and followers to reflect on healthy and unhealthy dynamics, both online and offline. This campaign was brought to life through a powerful live event at The Shay Stadium in Halifax, where Soundproof Box CIC performed their interactive theatre production Red Flags. The performance explored coercive control, early warning signs, and relationship red flags, engaging young people, professionals, and community members in meaningful discussion. By combining live theatre with digital engagement, the campaign reached diverse audiences and created space for vital conversations.

Becoming a Charity and Defining Our Values

One of the most significant milestones of 2025 was EdShift’s transition from a Community Interest Company to a registered charity. This step strengthened our governance, opened new funding opportunities, and reinforced our long-term commitment to supporting children, young people, and families affected by domestic abuse. Alongside this change, we introduced four core organisational values: Creativity, Courage, Safety, and Connection. These values now guide every decision we make, from programme design to partnerships and internal culture, ensuring our work remains trauma-informed, ethical, and impactful.

Measuring Impact and Learning

Our 2025 Impact Report captured the breadth of EdShift’s work over the year, sharing outcomes, reflections, and learning from children, families, and staff. The report highlights how arts-based interventions support young people to develop confidence, resilience, and the foundations for healthy, meaningful lives.

Investing in Our Team

Recognising that high-quality support depends on skilled, confident practitioners, we prioritised staff development throughout 2025. Team members completed SafeLives Domestic Abuse Manager Training and Mentoring Training with Break The Glass, strengthening trauma-informed practice across the organisation and ensuring the best possible support for the young people we work with.

Funding, Partnerships and Commissioned Services

2025 saw important funding successes, with support from NPower Business Solutions, Grand Central Community Fund, KFC Youth Foundation, National Lottery Awards for All, CFFC, and Arnold Clarke. These partnerships have helped strengthen sustainability and expand our reach. A particularly significant achievement was securing our first commissioned service in partnership with the local authority, delivering therapeutic support to families fleeing domestic abuse. This milestone reflects our mission in action, providing specialist, creative support to help families build safe, loving relationships and meaningful lives.

Membership and In Touch Youth Club

Our membership programme continued to grow, welcoming individuals and organisations who share our commitment to empowering young people. Through advocacy, volunteering, and fundraising, members play a vital role in extending EdShift’s impact. If you’re interested in becoming a member, you can find more information in our membership booklet. Meanwhile, our In Touch Youth Club remained a consistent source of support for children and young people transitioning in and out of services. By maintaining creative engagement and connection, the club ensures young people remain supported, visible, and valued.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we move into 2026, EdShift does so with clarity, confidence, and growing momentum. With a strong mission, clearly defined values, registered charity status, and trusted community partnerships, we are well positioned to deepen our impact and reach even more children and young people affected by domestic abuse.

Over the coming year, we will focus on strengthening leadership and governance through the recruitment of a new Chair, while continuing to grow our team in response to increasing demand for specialist support. Reducing waiting lists and expanding programme capacity will be a key priority, ensuring more children, young people, and families can access timely, trauma-informed, arts-based interventions. Alongside this, we will continue to develop partnerships, explore sustainable funding opportunities, and amplify young people’s voices through creativity, advocacy, and community connection.

2025 has shown us what is possible when creativity, courage, and community come together. Through the arts, children and young people can heal, grow, and create change, together, as a force for good.