Together We Heal: Kent Family Hubs Pioneering Support for Children Affected by Domestic Abuse
At the forefront of this movement is Natalie Penfold, Family Hub District Manager for Maidstone, whose passion and leadership have helped embed the Healing Together programme into the very fabric of Kent’s Family Hubs.
Watch the video interview with Dr Asha Patel and Clare Sergeant
Kent: A Trailblazer for Family Hubs
Kent is proud to be a trailblazer site for the national Family Hubs initiative, funded by the Department for Education. With a bold vision and a commitment to innovation, Kent County Council has now officially included Healing Together in its core offer, recognising its vital role in supporting the domestic abuse strand of the Family Hubs framework.
Filling the Gaps in Children’s Services
Domestic abuse services across the UK often lack consistent support for children. In Maidstone, this gap was particularly evident. While adult survivors could access services like Clarion and Satida’s Freedom and Phoenix programmes, children were left without a dedicated intervention. Healing Together has changed that.
Natalie explains, “In Maidstone, we didn’t have a children’s offer. Healing Together created something that wasn’t available before. It’s a tool that helps children process their emotions around being exposed to domestic abuse, without having to talk about the abuse itself.
The Power of Group Work
One of the most powerful aspects of Healing Together is its group delivery model. While the programme can be delivered one-to-one in exceptional cases, the group format has proven transformative.
“To hear other children say, ‘This is how I feel,’ and ‘This is what I’ve struggled with,’ has been really powerful,” Natalie shares. “They realise they’re not alone, not weird. They make friends. It brings them out of themselves.”
With three referrals a week in Maidstone alone, the demand is clear. Each referral represents a child and family embarking on an eight-week journey of healing. The impact is felt not just by the children, but by their families and schools. Teachers have reported noticeable improvements in emotional regulation and wellbeing, and parents have seen real changes at home.
Empowering Practitioners
The ripple effect of Healing Together extends to the practitioners delivering it. Many early years staff, previously working with children up to age seven, are now engaging with children up to 11 years old. The programme has helped them adapt their language, understand developmental stages, and apply emotional regulation strategies across their work.
Natalie proudly notes, “Even when they’re not delivering Healing Together, staff are using its techniques. It’s become part of our trauma-informed toolkit and whole practice framework.”
A Model for the Nation
Kent’s adoption of Healing Together is more than a local success—it’s a model for other counties. As the core offer is finalised and made public, Innovating Minds encourages other Family Hubs and local authorities to take note.
Natalie’s vision is clear: “There has to be something for children. Otherwise, we’re just creating more trauma, more perpetrators, more victims. We need to address the trauma, emotions and give children the tools to manage them.”
Join the Movement
Innovating Minds applauds Kent County Council, Maidstone Family Hubs, and especially Natalie Penfold and her dedicated team for their unwavering commitment to sustainable change.
Their work is not only healing children, it’s shaping a healthier future for families and communities.
We invite other local authorities, practitioners, and policymakers to explore the Healing Together programme and consider how it could be embedded in their own services. Let’s ensure that every child affected by domestic abuse has access to the support they need to heal and thrive.
