13 January 2026

Sasha* escaped with her daughter from her mother's abuse. In refuge she found solace, peace and a new-found hope for her and her daughter's future.

From a young age I had known my mother’s behaviour wasn’t right but I got so used to it over the years that I saw it as ‘normal’. The mental and emotional abuse was difficult but it was when it started affecting my young daughter that I knew I needed to leave. She would turn off the hot water so that we couldn’t have baths, she would block areas in the kitchen so that I couldn’t cook as she would want me to physically move her so that she could say that I touched her. She would self-harm and make out that I caused the injuries to her. Her abuse was starting to affect my daughter and I decided we had to leave. By then my daughter was wetting the bed and I realised how anxious my mother’s behaviour was making her.

"Zelda is very much focused on the kids, she has also supported me so much...Every day I see how she brings out the best in the children in the refuge. My daughter absolutely loves her. I don’t know what I’d have done without her support."

My daughter was seven years old when we entered the refuge, and it wasn’t easy because we had to move area. It was during our time at the refuge that I realised how much my daughter had been holding in. Things came out that had happened at my mums that I simply hadn’t known about. Her bed wetting was because she was going to bed worrying about things. She wouldn’t speak to me about my mum and whenever I tried to ask her she got very emotional and upset. It’s like she thought she’d done something wrong.

When my daughter started seeing Zelda, our family worker, it was a big relief. My daughter took to her straight away. I was surprised, as she is normally very shy but Zelda knows how to talk to her and how to get her to open up. They do all sorts of things together – painting, word searches, games. It’s been about a year since she started seeing Zelda and I can see such a difference in her. She’s more confident and more sure of herself and the bed wetting has completely stopped. Before she wouldn’t speak in front of a group but now she’s blossoming at school and is quite vocal. I think she sees Zelda being silly and playful and that gives her confidence to be herself. It’s so nice to see them together and hear her laugh again.

"I have a lot of hope for the future now. All I want is for my daughter to be happy and achieve everything she wants."

Although Zelda is very much focused on the kids, she has also supported me so much. If I am worried about something or having a tough day, Zelda will step in and I feel very comfortable because I know my daughter is safe. She is also incredibly wise! Sometimes I can get very wrapped up in my own thoughts but I can be honest with her and tell her how it is. She gives great advice and suggests things – she really helps me to see the situation differently. She is also incredibly funny and we can have a laugh and a joke. Every day I see how she brings out the best in the children in the refuge. My daughter absolutely loves her. I don’t know what I’d have done without her support.

I have a lot of hope for the future now. I’ve been studying to become a paralegal and hope to qualify soon. We are looking for a safe and suitable home so that we can move out of the refuge. All I want is for my daughter to be happy and achieve everything she wants. She is so kind and compassionate and I am so proud of her. My daughter will definitely remember Zelda as she grows up – she has paved the way for her to be the person she wants to be.

*Names and pictures changed to protect client anonymity. 

---

You might also be interested in...