Fort Alice

Domestic abuse can have a lasting impact on young peoples’ lives. Feelings of guilt, anxiety, anger, isolation, fear for personal safety and difficulty sleeping are all common.

We offer a range of support for children and young people who have witnessed domestic abuse or who are in an unhealthy relationship of their own. We’ve helped hundreds of young people tackle issues like skipping school, self-harming, choosing bad relationships, taking unnecessary risks, and challenging behaviours.

Educational programmes in schools help prevent children and young people entering into abusive relationships. Children and young people staying in our refuge accommodation can access tailored support through their recovery worker.

Our range of programmes
​Breaking Free
One of our main programmes is Breaking Free. Breaking Free is a group programme designed to help young people share experiences of domestic abuse and violence and express how they feel about it. We use a mix of interactive group work, games, creative activities and one-to-one sessions to develop skills and help you to understand healthy relationships. Sessions are held in schools, at our outreach centre or in community spaces.

Who’s it for?
The programme is for children and young people aged between 5-11 years who have lived experience of domestic abuse.

What’s it about?
Breaking Free provides a safe space for children and young people to discuss their experiences. Sessions are designed to build confidence and self-esteem by exploring and understanding your feelings.

A key part of the programme is developing an individual safety plan so that, if you feel frightened or unsafe in the future, you know how to escape, where to seek help and how to contact the emergency services.

We also look at behaviours, helping you to recognise different emotions and discuss strategies to take control and express yourself in a healthy way. Anger and anxiety are key feelings that we explore.

Using debates, quizzes, discussion and creative exercises in groups we learn about the tricks and traits of a perpetrator, sex and consent, equalities, stereotyping and boundaries, online safety/sexting and how to stay safe.

How do I refer a child I am working with?
You can make a referral for a child or young person who has been affected by domestic abuse and violence by contacting us at CYP@fortalice.co.uk

Healthy Relationships
This is an accredited educational programme that we deliver in primary and secondary schools across Bolton. We work with young people to understand what makes a good relationship, covering sexting, how to stay safe online and recognising choices. Learn more here.

One-to-one counselling
Our counselling service is available to children and young people who are registered with a Bolton GP and/or already accessing other services. Sessions are held after school at our outreach centre or delivered remotely by a specialist children’s counsellor.

See Counselling for more info and how to access.

You can also refer through the programmes below

IThrive is part of the Be Kind to My Mind programme, which aims to normalise talking about mental and emotional health among children and young people. Supported by NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS Bolton Foundation Trust, and The National Lottery Community Fund, it’s a simple one point referral for young people who want to talk.

Bolton Together
Bolton Together is a consortium of voluntary organisations working together to support mental health for children and young people in Bolton. Each service tailors their support to the young person, increasing the level of support and number of sessions dependent on the young person’s needs.

Refer 5-19 year-olds to Fortalice using this form.