A Yorkshire children's charity is marking its long-standing partnership with a domestic abuse support organisation, which has helped families across the region rebuild their lives.
The Principle Trust Children's Charity is celebrating its partnership with Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) as part of Domestic Abuse Awareness Month.
Since 2021, the charity has provided free respite holidays for families affected by domestic abuse, including those referred through IDAS teams covering Craven and other parts of Yorkshire.
IDAS is Yorkshire's largest specialist domestic abuse charity, offering practical and emotional support to adults and children, including refuge accommodation, safety planning and community-based services.
The Principle Trust provides families with opportunities to spend time together away from the challenges they have faced, helping children and parents create positive memories following difficult experiences.
Figures from the charity's 2026 season show that 64% of families referred through the partnership were experiencing financial hardship or living on a low income.
A further 45% were living in refuge or safe accommodation following domestic abuse, while 45% had additional needs, disabilities or neurodivergence identified within the family.
Among those supported was Elizabeth, who had experienced years of coercive control before leaving an abusive relationship.
A respite holiday gave her and her children the chance to spend time together and begin rebuilding their confidence.
Elizabeth said:
“I didn’t have the confidence to go very far with the children.
"I had no family support locally and felt very isolated.
"I was finally out of a dreadful situation, but I felt lost and didn’t really know what to do.
“It made me realise how lucky I was to have escaped such a dreadful situation for the safety of not only myself, but my children.
"The holiday was so lovely and gave us the time to be together as a family and share wonderful memories, which the children still talk about today.”
Laura Sykes, Service Delivery Manager for The Principle Trust, said:
“For families affected by domestic abuse, a holiday can mean so much more than a few days away.
"It provides an opportunity to step away from everyday pressures, spend positive time together and create happy memories.
“For children who may have experienced significant disruption or trauma, it offers the chance to enjoy new experiences, have fun and simply be children.
"We’re proud to work alongside IDAS to help families access these opportunities as they begin to rebuild their lives.”
The charity says its work with IDAS continues to provide valuable support for families across Yorkshire, offering respite and opportunities to recover from traumatic experiences.
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