Mums In Need

This week, we’re saying a very fond (and very sad) goodbye to our wonderful Caseworker Zara, who is moving on to pastures new.

For the past four years, Zara has been at the heart of our charity, a calm, consistent and trusted presence for so many mums and children rebuilding their lives after post-separation abuse. She has walked alongside families in some of their hardest moments, offering compassion, strength and unwavering dedication. The difference she has made is profound and lasting 💜

She will be deeply missed by our team and by the mums she supported, but we are so proud of her and excited to see where this next chapter takes her.

Thank you, Zara, for everything you’ve given. Your impact will continue to be felt long after your last day 💜

We’ll soon be recruiting for this role. If you’re interested in joining our team, please keep an eye on our newsletter for updates: https://subscribepage.io/3w12f9 ✨

Post-separation abuse and coercive control occur when an abusive partner continues to manipulate, intimidate, or control their ex-partner long after the relationship has ended. This can take many forms, from stalking and harassment to withholding financial support or restricting access to children.

Coercive control is a deliberate pattern of behaviour meant to keep survivors feeling powerless, isolated, and dependent. Even after a relationship ends, the abuse doesn’t stop, it often morphs into a relentless form of torment, making it extremely difficult for survivors to rebuild their lives.

For mothers, post-separation abuse creates a constant cycle of fear and anxiety. The threat of harassment, retaliation, or manipulation, particularly when co-parenting is required, an seriously affect mental health and wellbeing. Protecting themselves and their children becomes a daily struggle.

At Mums In Need, we are dedicated to supporting mothers in Sheffield and beyond who are experiencing post-separation abuse. We help them reclaim their power, rebuild their lives, and find hope, providing the specialist guidance, wellbeing support, and legal advice they need.

While our waiting list is currently closed, you can explore our range of resources here: www.mumsinneed.com/support-info/resources-other-support

Alex Scott, former professional footballer, pundit and sports presenter, grew up with domestic abuse in her household. She has written a memoir, ‘How (Not) to Be Strong’ which includes some of her experiences.

You can also hear her talk about her life, and the impact of growing up with domestic abuse in the home on YouTube .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcFNahUxd3k

The Family Court system can feel like a battlefield. ⚖️

For mums facing post-separation abuse, the courtroom can become another space where control is exerted through legal processes. Navigating this system requires specialist knowledge, preparation, and calm, consistent support.

At Mums In Need, we provide the expert guidance and advocacy families need to approach hearings feeling informed, prepared, and supported.

Our focus now is on building long-term stability, so that the 70 families currently in our care, and many more in the future, continue to have access to specialist legal and emotional support.

Justice shouldn’t depend on circumstance. Every family deserves steady, expert guidance through one of the most challenging periods of their lives.

Help us sustain this vital work:
🌐 www.justgiving.com/campaign/savemumsinneed

Earlier this month, Mums In Need was proud to be part of the Festival of Women at Sharrow School. Our CEO Laura Riley, Ambassador Miranda, and Volunteer Hannah hosted a stall alongside incredible local organisations, all coming together to support women and raise awareness of vital community causes.

💛 The event created a powerful space for connection, collaboration, and shared purpose. It gave us the chance to raise awareness of our mission to support mums facing post-separation abuse and to connect with families and professionals across our local community.

📚 Thanks to everyone who supported us by purchasing our Write to Be Heard books, every penny raised helps ensure mums’ voices are heard and believed.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, supported us, and stood with mums facing post-separation abuse.

“MIN has been such a source of support during this awful time... Every piece of advice I’ve received has been absolutely spot on.” 💜

This powerful message comes from a mum currently receiving support from Mums In Need as she navigates the trauma of post-separation abuse and ongoing legal proceedings.

Because of our supporters, we’re able to provide calm, consistent, specialist guidance when it’s needed most, not just in moments of crisis, but throughout the long and often complex journey to recovery.

Now, our focus is on building long-term stability, so we can reach more mums and give that same steady, expert support to even more families.

Every donation helps us sustain our caseworkers, strengthen our services, and create a reliable safety net for mums and their children.

If you’d like to help us build that stability, you can donate or share our campaign here: www.justgiving.com/campaign/savemumsinneed

Here’s a little sneaky peek behind the scenes… 🎬

Last week, the team from Hydra Creative Limited visited our office to capture some vital new footage for us. In an incredibly generous gesture, they are supporting us with their video production expertise to create a short film about our work.

The video will be a powerful tool to help us reach more people, share our mission, and secure long-term support for the 70 families who rely on Mums In Need, as well as the many more families we hope to support in the future. 💜

We are so grateful to Hydra Creative for investing their talent in our future.

Stay tuned, we can’t wait to share the final film with you soon!

'I brought my controlling and abusive ex-partner to justice'

Emma Davey has bravely shared her story of coercive or controlling behaviour at the hands of her ex-partner. The red flags seem obvious in retrospect yet, as Emma notes, so many of the behaviours seem caring at the time. Her case also highlights the range of abusive behaviours that can be present in a coercive relationship.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2kn534243no

A huge thank you to Transform Your Training!

We are incredibly moved by their generous donation to our emergency fundraiser.

This contribution is especially meaningful to us because our wonderful Trustee, Annie, is a freelance facilitator and trainer for them. Seeing her professional community step up to support her role at Mums In Need is truly heart warming.

By backing our mission during this critical time, Transform Your Training is doing more than just donating, they are living by their values. Their support helps ensure that we can keep our doors open for the 70 families who rely on our specialist services.

To the whole team at Transform Your Training: thank you for standing beside us and investing in the wellbeing and empowerment of mums in our community. 💜

We’ll be sharing more stories of amazing businesses who have supported our fundraiser in the coming weeks, keep an eye out for more examples of community generosity! 🙏

There’s still time to make a donation and help provide a safety net for our services: www.justgiving.com/campaign/savemumsinneed

Taye Training