For too long, children affected by domestic abuse have been the hidden victims. Their experiences are often overlooked, minimised, or treated as secondary to the adults around them. Yet we know the impact is profound, shaping how children experience safety, relationships, and the world around them. At EdShift, we believe that has to change. That belief sits at the heart of our new 2026 strategy: Every Child Seen. Every Child Heard.

This strategy marks an important moment for EdShift. Not just in how we grow as an organisation, but in how we continue to stand alongside children and young people affected by domestic abuse.

“Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported, not left waiting at the edges of the systems meant to protect them.”

 

Why Strategy Matters for Charities: Creating Direction and Accountability

For charities working in complex and often underfunded sectors, having a clear strategy is essential. It creates direction, strengthens accountability, and most importantly, it ensures that every decision is guided by purpose. At EdShift, our purpose remains unchanged. To support children and young people whose lives have been shaped by domestic abuse, and to ensure they are recognised, supported, and heard. And as demand for our services continues to grow, we must plan carefully, grow sustainably, and build the systems and partnerships needed to reach more children safely. This strategy is how we do that.

Across the UK, children affected by domestic abuse continue to face significant barriers to support. Waiting lists are long, thresholds for intervention are high, and too many children are left navigating trauma without the specialist help they need. At EdShift, we see this every day. Referrals are increasing, and the need for trauma-informed, creative support continues to rise. Our 2026 strategy responds directly to this reality, with a clear and focused priority: To reach more children and young people affected by domestic abuse, safely, sustainably and with measurable impact. This priority will guide every decision we make over the coming year.

Our Goals for 2026: What We Are Working Towards

This strategy is about clear, measurable goals. Over the next year, EdShift is working towards:

• Reducing our waiting list by 50%, so children can access support sooner
• Growing organisational income towards £500,000, strengthening sustainability
• Expanding therapeutic capacity, both in the community and at The YouthBase
• Strengthening partnerships across safeguarding, health and education systems
• Improving how we measure and demonstrate impact for children and families

These goals are interconnected. Increasing income allows us to grow our team. Strengthening partnerships improves access to support. Expanding capacity means more children can receive support sooner. Together, they move us closer to our aim: More children seen. More children heard. More children supported.

To deliver this work, our strategy is built around five key pillars:

• Marketing and fundraising – building sustainable income to support growth
• Strategic partnerships – working across systems to improve support for children
• Capacity and delivery – increasing how many children we can safely support
• Quality and impact – ensuring our work remains trauma-informed and effective
• Governance – strengthening accountability as we grow as a charity

These pillars provide the structure behind our ambition. They ensure that growth does not come at the expense of quality, and that every step forward is grounded in safe, trauma-informed practice.

More Than Support: Building Something Stronger

This strategy is about building the capacity, leadership and sustainability needed to respond to the reality children are facing. Without early, specialist support, the impact of domestic abuse can stay with children into adolescence and adulthood, affecting mental health, relationships, education and long-term wellbeing. We know that when children are given safe spaces to express themselves, build relationships and process their experiences, something powerful happens. They begin to rebuild trust, to find their voice, and to see new possibilities for their future. That is what this strategy is working towards.

For many children, the difference between being supported and being overlooked can shape the course of their lives. This is why strategy matters. It ensures that organisations like EdShift can move beyond reacting to need, and instead build the systems, partnerships and resources required to respond earlier, more effectively, and with lasting impact. Children affected by domestic abuse deserve more than crisis responses. They deserve to be seen and to be heard. They deserve support that meets them where they are and helps them move forward.

Looking Ahead: Be Part of the Shift

2026 marks an important chapter for EdShift. As a registered charity, we are continuing to strengthen our foundations, deepen our partnerships, and expand our reach, always guided by the same purpose. To ensure that no child affected by domestic abuse is left waiting, overlooked, or navigating trauma alone. This strategy is our commitment to doing better, for the children and young people we support today, and for those we have yet to reach. Because when children are given safe spaces to speak, create and be heard, healing begins and change becomes possible.

Reaching more children is not something we can do alone.

This strategy is ambitious because the need is real, and growing. If you believe that children affected by domestic abuse deserve to be seen, heard and supported, there are ways you can stand with us:

• Support our work so more children can access specialist, trauma-informed support
• Partner with us to strengthen systems around children and young people
• Fund our programmes and help reduce waiting times
• Share our message and raise awareness of children’s experiences

Download our ‘Be Part of the Shift’ booklet here.

Every action helps us move closer to a future where no child is overlooked.

Every child deserves to be seen. And every child deserves to be heard.