Victim Support today announces the national expansion of WeMatter, a pioneering digital group recovery programme for children and young people aged 8 to 17 who have experienced domestic abuse. This decision follows a successful pilot and independent evaluation, commissioned by Foundations and funded by the Cabinet Office’s Evaluation Accelerator Fund. 

Domestic abuse affects one in five children in England and the impact can be profound. Many children struggle with feelings of isolation, anxiety, and difficulty managing emotions. Yet access to recovery support has often depended on where a child lives, creating a postcode lottery that leaves families without timely help. Victim Support developed WeMatter to change this, offering a national, digital service that removes barriers such as geography and transport, protects anonymity, and ensures children can access support wherever they are.  

Originally delivered in five local areas, WeMatter was expanded across England for the pilot to test feasibility and impact. The evaluation confirmed WeMatter’s promise and recommended scaling up, paving the way for a national rollout as a permanent service. The pilot, one of the first randomised controlled trials of its kind in the UK, involved 312 children and young people. Findings show that children who took part in WeMatter reported meaningful improvements in wellbeing, confidence, and emotional regulation. Parents and carers also observed positive changes in how children understood healthy relationships and coped with difficult feelings. 

Delivered online in small groups, WeMatter enables children to connect with peers who share similar experiences while maintaining privacy. The digital format also reduces pressure on families by eliminating the need for travel and has proved particularly effective for neurodiverse children, who often find traditional face-to-face group work challenging. Children told researchers they felt calmer, more confident, and better able to manage emotions. For many, the chance to share experiences in a safe space was life changing. 

WeMatter is delivered by Victim Support and based on Rock Pool’s evidence-based Children and Young People Domestic Abuse Recovery Toolkit. Victim Support is the only organisation approved to deliver this toolkit digitally, with strong safeguarding measures built into the online environment. 

Ben Donagh, WeMatter Service Lead, said:
“The success of the pilot and independent evaluation shows just how vital WeMatter is for children recovering from domestic abuse. By delivering the programme online, we’ve made support accessible to every child who needs it, no matter where they live. Children tell us they feel more confident, calmer, and better able to manage their emotions. For many, connecting with others who understand their experiences has been transformative.”

Dr. Aoife O’Higgins, Director of Evidence, Foundations, said:

“We are excited to support the expansion of WeMatter through our investment in programme delivery and a rigorous evaluation. Through this investment we are able to increase the number of children accessing this innovative online intervention and strengthen its evidence base at the same time. The expansion will focus on reaching neurodiverse children and circumventing the postcode lottery in a way that feels truly inclusive. Working alongside Victim Support and Verian to deliver this evaluation brings together expertise in research, practice, and policy, helping us generate insights that will shape trauma-informed recovery programmes for the future.”

Sue Penna, CEO of Rock Pool, said:
“We are extremely proud of our partnership with Victim Support for the WeMatter programme. Being able to offer Rock Pool’s trauma informed Domestic Abuse Recovery Toolkit to children regardless of their location or ability really opens the opportunity for those children and young people that need support following domestic abuse to receive a targeted intervention that really works”

Nikki Plummer, Head of Service, Domestic Abuse and Interpersonal Violence at Birmingham Children’s Trust, said:

“Nationally, specialist services for these children and young people are limited. WeMatter (Victim Support) have bridged that gap with their Children and Young People Domestic Abuse Recovery Toolkit programme. Having worked with WeMatter over the 18 months we have been able to ensure that we secure specialist support for children and young people quickly.

“The programme is offered online, and this makes it more accessible for everyone who needs support. The referral form is easy to complete, and the WeMatter team keeps the referrer updated. The programme has been a lifeline for many children and young people to assist them to recover from domestic abuse.”

Expanding WeMatter nationally means more children can access specialist support when they need it most. This approach not only improves individual wellbeing but also strengthens the evidence base for trauma-informed interventions.