With winter approaching and Christmas just around the corner it can be a busy (and darker!) time of year. But unlike the changes other seasons bring, the winter months can be harder for many of us with darker skies and colder weather. The financial burden of the festive season can bring overwhelm. The ‘c’…
It is a saddening fact that 1 in 5 adults experience Domestic Abuse during their lifetime. This equates to: 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6-7 men. At Future Living Hertford, we have a bold mission – to make domestic abuse a thing of the past. How do we propose to do this? …
Jodie Hamby, a former client and now employee at Future Living Hertford shares her story of what inspires her to work for us and how she hopes her voice can help other survivors of domestic abuse. Jodie was received an award this year (pictured above) from Hertfordshire Constabulary for her involvement in the Domestic Abuse…
10th September marks World Suicide Prevention Day, a day aimed at raising awareness about suicide and how it can be prevented. Suicide is often caused when someone feels there is no way out, their life may feel all too consuming or they may be struggling to cope in general. For a victim of domestic…
It’s been a quieter time for Future Living over the past month. As our summer programmes drew to a close, the team took a much needed break to recoup after a very busy period. We have returned ready and raring to go, full of excitement for what lies ahead over the coming months. We…
With our current Wise Guys Programme coming to an end in July, we wanted to hear from one of the participants on the programme about his experience and how he feels Wise Guys has helped him. Across the UK 712,000 men aged 16 years and over experienced domestic abuse in the last year (ONS 2024)…
As a charity, we are privileged to work with some very inspirational individuals, none more so than our clients. The support we provide can be life changing, but Future Living is only a very small seed in the clients journey of growth, strength and hope for a better future. The first step When clients…
Every year, we hold an AGM which offers a chance to bring all the wonderful people who make Future Living Hertford what it is together. Although we are a small operational team, there are many people behind the scenes who work hard to keep Future Living running smoothly. These people include our board of…
At Future Living, we listen carefully to the voices of those most affected by domestic abuse – including the youngest among us. That’s why the recent report from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, deeply resonated with our team. The report shines a stark light on a critical issue: an estimated 800,000 children in…
Taking on a marathon is a mighty challenge. It’s not just a physical challenge, it’s also a mental one, which requires a great deal of strength and determination. Having a motivation to take on a challenge makes all the difference. When Richard heard that Future Living Hertford had marathon places up for grabs, he…
The Domestic Abuse Lived Experience Police training has been off to a great start this year. As a charity, we actively encourage client involvement within our programmes and services. This training simply could not take place without our amazing clients as the sharing of their stories and experiences of domestic abuse and police involvement give…
At Future Living Hertford, we are dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic abuse and empowering people within our local community. But we couldn’t do this vital work without you. While we receive some funding for key projects, we rely on fundraising, corporate partnerships, and donations to reach more people in need. There are so many…
March 8th marks International Women’s Day (IWD), a time to celebrate the resilience, achievements, and power of women worldwide. At Future Living Hertford, we see first-hand the strength of women. Especially survivors of domestic abuse—who overcome unimaginable challenges and rebuild their lives with courage and determination. Women who have experienced domestic abuse often face years…
When I first started at Future Living Hertford, initially as a volunteer, I had no previous experience of domestic abuse on a personal or educational level. It’s one of those things, like anything where you think it hasn’t happened to me so I don’t need to know about it. Although I am someone who is…
As we ease ourselves back into the new year following the excitement of the festive season, we start to look forward to the year ahead of us, bringing new hope, new connections and new opportunities. Future Living Hertford is off to a great start so far. From the first week in January, the team got…
As the festive season is well and truly upon us, many of us look forward to time with family, social events and presents we are hoping to receive. But for some Christmas is a difficult time. The current economic crisis, coupled with rising energy bills and food prices, means Christmas is virtually impossible for those…
Following the successful pilot earlier in the year, Future Living Hertford are delighted to be facilitating The Police Domestic Abuse Lived Experience Training. From January next year, we will be working with Hertfordshire police to deliver the training to up to 1000 officers. We are pleased to be part of the process in ensuring front…
Male Victims, the facts…. When domestic abuse is mentioned, it is common for people to think that men are solely the perpetrators of the abuse. But statistics show that 1 in 7 victims are male. Although this is lower than female victims, this still equates to over 750,000 men each year. Those 1 in 7…
A golden opportunity Future Living Hertford is excited to announce that we have 1 charity place at next year’s London marathon. The London marathon is an iconic event, which has been running (pardon the pun!) since 1981 and was founded by athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley. To complete a marathon is quite something, but…
A new chapter As the new CEO of Future Living Hertford I feel incredibly honoured to lead the next chapter in the charity’s fight against domestic abuse and good mental wellbeing for all. Domestic abuse is a global issue. Its effects are felt most deeply by the individuals, families and communities it touches. Future Living…
Many of us are familiar with the saying ‘the future is in our hands’ but sometimes life can be complicated. Through events we endure throughout our lives, it’s easy to believe that our future is already written from where we are standing now. Shining a light in the dark Sometimes, getting the right help…
Future Living Hertford is pleased to announce its association with CPD. CPD Accreditation is a trust mark achieved by training providers, course creators, and other educators when their training activity (course, event, other) has been assessed and confirmed to meet standards suitable for Continuing Professional Development. All of our courses will be accredited this way…
This year’s AGM was an extra special occasion. Not only were we celebrating our 10 year anniversary, but it was also Sandra Conte’s last AGM following the news of her retirement earlier this year. Sandra is the founder and CEO of Future Living Hertford. She has worked tirelessly for the past 10 years to make…
We are pleased to provide some more information about Future Living Hertford’s Domestic Abuse Drop-in and One Stop Shop. When a survivor of domestic abuse initially decides to leave and reach out for support, it can seem overwhelming with so many different services available. That is why we wanted to create a safe space where…
I am delighted to announce that we have, once again, been granted a Lloyds Bank Foundation grant for the next three years. Lloyds Bank Foundation have supported us over a number of years, understanding the needs of a charity like ours working in the domestic abuse sector, and the need for repeat funding. The saying…
Future Living Hertford is a small but well established charity. Sandra Conte started Future Living in 2014 in a small church hall, originally supporting addiction clients. How we have grown…… Since its humble beginnings, thanks to years of hard work and dedication from Sandra and the team, Future Living is now an award winning, highly…
Mental health is something we all have, just in the same way we have physical health. Yet, it is often the case that we are far more likely to seek help for a physical health condition than we are for issues with our mental health. In more recent times, the stigma surrounding mental health issues…
25th April is recognised as Parental Alienation Awareness Day. The campaign is used to highlight the devastating impact this can have on children. It also educates those who may not be aware of this form of abuse about what it entails. What is Parental Alienation? Parental alienation is when one parent discourages the child…
Sandra Conte, CEO of Future Living Hertford, is delighted to announce the return, of one of it’s previous and highly qualified and popular counsellors, Mia Turner, to the charity, as a member of the staff team. Mia will be responsible for the Children & Young People’s Services, The Base. Services have successfully expanded under Nicola…
Following 10 years of leadership after founding Future Living Hertford in 2013, I am planning to retire from my position as Chief Executive Officer, to enjoy more time with my family. I have felt humbled and proud to lead such an amazing organisation and team through a time of growth and development which has continued, despite…
Clients Become Mentors…… Some time ago I felt that we should include clients in the work of the Monica Programme going forward and give them opportunities to be a part of the charity as their feedback has always been vital to its success. Clients often ask if they can ‘give back’ to the charity. At…
Future Living Domestic Abuse Lead, Nicola Freeth and Trustee, Annie Brewster, were delighted to attend and present at an event at Hertfordshire Police HQ. This was the first event of its kind for officers to become specialised Domestic Abuse Influencers within the force. The initiative involves police staff from across all departments volunteering to be…
It’s safe to say, no one knows you better than you know yourself. After all, you’ve spent your whole life trying to master the art of being you! It can be easy for others to pass judgment on who you are merely by your appearance or personality. Some may think they know you well but…
Through Future Living’s partnership with a local secondary school, they have been running a White Ribbon Ambassador programme. Students at the school volunteered to work with Future Living to promote the aims of the White Ribbon campaign. The White Ribbon Campaign is a global movement of men and boys working to end male violence against…
From Monday 5th – Sunday 11th February Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week will be acknowledged. The week is used to raise awareness of children’s mental health. It sines a light on the importance of accessing the right support for those who need it. How we work with children and young people… The children and…
As CEO of registered charity Future Living Hertford it was really challenging moving our services from face to face over to online during the COVID pandemic…. and at a moments notice. I think everyone breathed out when it was all finally over and we could get back to a ‘normal’ life. Since then I’ve been…
A hard time of year… This time of year is all about spending time with loved ones and making special memories. But if you have children you will be all too aware that Christmas to them, is also about presents! And let’s face it, this time of year can be expensive. Particularly if you have…
It’s no secret that the country is currently feeling the effects of the rising costs of living. Many of us are having to choose between putting food on the table or heating our homes. Sadly, as a result, other needs deemed as ‘non essential’ are pushed aside. Help is at hand…… In turn this…
The need for counselling is growing. We have been receiving more and more requests for counselling appointments for adults outside of school hours. We are delighted to now be able to offer new appointment times. On Mondays and Wednesdays from January 2024, we will now offer a new slot of 3.30 pm. We appreciate how…
Hello everyone! Christmas feels like it’s becoming real now and not far off. So at Future Living Hertford we are all gearing up with Christmas cards and present wrapping! Do you feel the Christmas Spirit too? We’ve dressed our Christmas Tree at our premises in Hertford. As well as this we are having a…
Often, when people think about therapy the first thing which usually springs to mind is talk therapy. The thing is, everyone is different and some people actually find it hard to express themselves through talking. In fact for some, talking can be too much all together, especially the idea of talking to someone they have…
The countdown to our donation week for The Big Give Christmas Challenge is well and truly on! It’s just over 3 weeks to go until donation week! This gives us just enough time for us to fill you in on the latest news of our magical campaign, which starts on Tuesday 28th November. …
About our campaign… Earlier in the year we announced that this year Future Living is taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge. The campaign is a great way to make sure that any donations received by our generous donors go even further! The challenge also allows us to secure match funding from Champions through…
Starting at the beginning……. When we meet a male client for the first time, it’s hard for us to know how much the experiences they have encountered have changed them. Simply because, we didn’t know who they were before they had become a victim of domestic abuse. In some clients we meet, it is evident…
The range of services offered by Future Living Hertford is growing! Our charity is excited to be able to add Lego Therapy to our range of therapies for children and young people. This will complement our existing list of therapies for children and young people which include: art, drama, play, and talk therapy. What is…
It is estimated that 1 in 6 children will develop a mental health condition in their lifetime. While this is not always preventable due to factors such as genetics, early intervention can be crucial in preventing potential mental health struggles from escalating further down the line. Why is early intervention important? Future Living recognises the…
What is art therapy? Art therapy is a type of therapeutic service which enables the client to explore their emotions. Art pieces are created and discussed with the art therapist. The work produced does not necessarily have to be linked to a specific emotion or issue the person may be facing. It is often considered…
This year Future Living are taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge. The challenge is a great match funding opportunity. This gives us the chance to double any donations which are made. What is our campaign for? Our campaign is focused on supporting children and young people’s mental health. With any funds raised from…
What is economic abuse? Economic abuse is a recognised form of domestic abuse under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. It involves the perpetrator establishing full control over their partners economic resources. As a result, the victim becomes solely reliant on the perpetrator financially. This removes the victim’s capacity to support themselves, leading to entrapment within…
The services offered by Future Living are inclusive of male and female survivors of domestic abuse. Although a higher percentage of our clients are female, we are starting to see a rise in men requiring support. . Statistics show that men are far less likely than women to seek help following domestic abuse. This…
Whenever domestic abuse is mentioned, commonly people tend to think of the physical abuse this can entail. There is a standardized misconception that it only happens to women and it is mainly physical. However, there is a darker side to domestic abuse, a type of abuse which can prove even more dangerous to the victims…
CEO and founder of Future Living, Sandra was delighted to meet online with the Rachel Millar, Practice & Partnership Geographic Lead for the East of England, attached to the Domestic Abuse Commissioners Office, alongside Nicola, Future Livings DA Lead. Rachel wanted to engage with local service partners and find out more about the work…
We were delighted to welcome Minister for Safeguarding and Conservative MP for Derbyshire Dales, Sarah Dines to Vale House. Sarah’s role involves her looking to improve issues such as violence against women and girls, domestic abuse, forced marriage and child abuse and exploitation. Many of these are areas that Future Living works towards improving as…
Loneliness is a crippling feeling that sadly affects a large percentage of the UK. Loneliness is often associated with those from the elderly generation but it can affect younger people too. Particularly with the digital age. Young people are leading a double life on social media. A life far from their own and lacking in…
About our work The work we do to support victims of domestic abuse can be life changing. Whilst we never claim to be the silver bullet that fixes everything, we pride ourselves in being a very instrumental part of the recovery process. Future Living appreciates this takes time, we are patient and, where possible,…
Our work with male clients… At Future Living, we work with both female and male victims of domestic abuse. Although rates of male victims are somewhat lower than that of female victims, many men do suffer horrific abuse at the hands of their partner too. As a service we see this first hand on…
Who are we? Future Living Hertford is delighted to be continuing to offer Domestic Abuse Recovery Services. We are an independent charity operating with grant funding and social enterprise. What do we offer? Future Living Hertford offers The Monica Programme for female survivors of domestic abuse. The life changing empowerment programme will be running…
Where it all began In August 2022, I began the role of Family Caseworker at Future Living. Having spent 12 years as a primary teacher, I wanted to find a role where I could actively support families and their wellbeing. The work of the charity immediately jumped out to me. It looked to be what…
About The Monica Programme: One of our most popular services is The Monica Programme. The programme is for female survivors of domestic abuse and runs for 12 weeks. The transformation we see in the women who attend is truly remarkable. With each new programme, there comes new stories. Stories of hope, determination, bravery and survival.…
What’s been happening at 43 Bakery It’s less than 3 weeks until 43 Bakery opens its doors! Work is still underway to ensure we have everything ready to go. Finishing touches are being put in place in the bakery with the arrival of new equipment and stock, which we hope will soon need refilling! Our…
About the Bakery Work is well underway on the refurbishment of our soon to launch bakery, which is named 43 Bakery. The Future Living team are eagerly awaiting the finished result. We have been delighted with the progress so far. Our new bakery will also have it’s own dedicated website: 43bakery.co.uk which will be launching soon.…
Why we created the book We are thrilled to share that the story of Future Living has been made into a book! Back in November, we held a fairy-tale and White Ribbon event at Vale House. The event was held as part of 16 Days Of Activism. The White Ribbon campaign is a global movement…
From the end of my first session, I knew I had finally found a counsellor I connected with. It was so different to all the other counselling I had tried. finally, I felt heard and not judged. I was at ease and the anxiety I initially had, melted away within a few minutes. I…
At the heart of everything we do as a charity are our clients. At Future Living. We encourage those to walk through our doors to speak openly about their experiences of domestic abuse. We recognise the bravery and strength it takes. Often, once a client has been accessing our service for some time, they…
As a charity, Future Living delivers a range of programmes to support victims of domestic abuse. One of the programmes we offer is The Monica Programme. This is a 12 week programme which consists of 2 hour weekly sessions. As a result, participants are taught about things like healthy relationships and the cycle of abuse.…
Future Living is approached by a local radio station to give an interview on the topic of male victims of domestic abuse. This was in conjunction with Mankind’s Supporting Male Victims of Domestic Abuse Day 2022. Planet Radio conducted the interview to highlight the hashtag used as part of the campaign #MenYouAreNotAlone. How does Future…
We all remember our school years. For some they weren’t so long ago, whereas for others perhaps they seem a distant memory. One thing is for sure, you never forget! School is often referred to as ‘the best years of your life’ but for many young people it can be anything but. We appreciate this,…
As a continuation of the valuable work we deliver in schools across Hertfordshire, we are excited to get started on a new project at Simon Balle School. Some of our trained therapists from Future Living, will be facilitating a therapeutic music group alongside the music lead at the school. The group will be offered to…
The Future Living team are greatly honoured to share that we have been selected to receive 1 of The Queen’s Green Canopy 350 trees featured in the specially made sculpture named The Tree of Tree’s. During the Jubilee celebrations, The Queens Green Canopy, a unique tree-planting initiative was launched, inviting people from across the UK…
Even from a young age, I’ve always had this distinct feeling, a feeling that I didn’t ‘fit’, like I didn’t belong. No matter where I went or what I did, how much weight I lost, how ‘well’ I was doing on the surface with work or achievements or how well others perceived I was doing.…
Before you had children did you ever wonder what kind of parent you would be? Maybe you imagined you would be playful? Calm? The opposite of your own mother. And now you are a parent I wonder if you are surprised that it hasn’t really worked out like that. That your children drive you…
As parents don’t we all want to be Superheroes? We want to give our children the best possible start in life. We want their cooperation, creativity and kindness. How are we all doing so far? Here at Future Living we’ve done loads of research and talked to children, young people and parents about how…
We have some great news to shout about! We have been granted some amazing funding to create a Jubilee sculpture. With this funding we plan to run some exciting sessions for children, young people and adults during the coming weeks. Our community will make ceramic decorations for a metal tree sculpture to be located…
We had a wonderful surprise during 2021 – a really generous donation through our bankers CAF Bank, from a group called Grumpy Givers – what a lovely name! We understand that they wish to remain anonymous and we want to respect that. However, we wish to say a big THANK YOU to those involved for…
As CEO of Future Living I was honoured and humbled to receive the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire’s Award for our work with children and young people last week. The work commended was for our free Sugar Foot Boxing classes, a safe place for young people to explore their anger and emotions. Run by Ali…
FLH 2022 Programme FINAL (1) Here is a link to our extensive programme calendar for 2022! We are really excited that Future Living can offer a diverse range of programmes to suit the needs of men, women and children who have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse and poor mental wellbeing as a result. The group…
I am delighted that Future Living has reopened in the New Year at Vale House in Hertford, after the Christmas Break. The award winning charity is offering even more programmes and projects in 2022, so please do check the website pages. Maybe take a look at our information app on IOS and Android : FL…
As a part of our ongoing education work within Future Living we are delighted to offer a new Domestic Abuse Recovery course commencing on Tuesday 22nd February 2022. Where & when: The course will take place at Future Living premises in Vale House, 43 Cowbridge, Hertford SG14 1PN. Covering twelve modules over 12 weeks…
Our AGM was enormously successful and proved to be a lively and memorable event. It was wonderful to be able to host the AGM face to face and open our doors at Vale House to showcase some of the work that we do daily, to our community of partners, funders and supporters of Future Living…
We want Children’s Voices to be heard. We plan on developing a training model for those specialists involved in the process to roll out as a pilot over Hertfordshire in the coming year. A model the charity hopes will become a national template for organisations who are the important decision makers surrounding children’s future…
The evolution of storytelling reflects how people learn and communicate. Through oral storytelling or written storytelling, the voice of narration will always have a place and a purpose. We believe the above to be true of our Children’s Voices Campaign, their narrative is their truth from the heart of the child and we should listen. It…
Here at Future Living we wanted to support our community through forms of art therapy to help heal after long periods of isolation due to coronavirus. We wanted to celebrate how our community had managed through such a difficult time and offer something back. We hadn’t realised just how profound an effect it would have…
Accredited by the University of Hertfordshire As a part of our ongoing education work within Future Living we are delighted to offer a new Domestic Abuse Recovery course commencing on Monday 6th September 2021 at our premises in Vale House, 43 Cowbridge, Hertford SG14 1PN The course covers twelve modules over 12 weeks, every Monday…
Future Living Hertford has always prided itself in responding to client needs and where possible, to then expand this service to include the wider community. Our art therapy courses came about in response to seeing how much our clients benefited and enjoyed art therapy as part of our group work for Domestic Abuse survivors, the…
Future Living Hertford are thrilled to announce the exciting news that they have been awarded funding from Comic Relief and Paul Hamlyn Foundation ‘Build’ programme to develop a game app for young people to improve their mental health and well-being in their local area, centred around the concept of the sport of boxing as a…
Future Living Hertford, a charity for Domestic Abuse victims and survivors, has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2021, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. Known as the MBE for voluntary service. Future Living Hertford is a registered charity (1155145) helping men, women and children who are…
With the launch of our new Children and Young People service, The Base we now have a wider range of placement counsellor opportunities to offer, all supported by a personal development programme of training for each counsellor. We are looking to recruit a number of placement counsellors that are passionate about the type of work…
Here at Future Living Hertford, our clients are at the heart of what we do and why we do it. Feedback is crucial not only to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our clients but also to guide and educate us how to improve, enhance and adapt our approach to helping. Below are…
Here at Future Living Hertford our work focuses on helping Domestic Violence victims and survivors and we are really proud of the work that we do. We also take a huge amount of pride in our wonderful community here in Hertford and we want to put Vale House, our beautiful listed building in the heart…
After months of hard work, we are delighted to announce that our new website is now live! We have built our new website with you, our visitor, in mind. You should now be able to easily find the information you are looking for and learn about the latest goings on at Future Living Hertford. Browse…
The press coverage this week of the growing problem of sexual abuse in schools and Ofsted leading an urgent inquiry into schools’ response has highlighted the need for a programme designed to educate young people in healthy relationships. Future Living Hertford has been working with local secondary schools in the past delivering our Young…
A 10-week Art Therapy quilt making course starting on Friday 23rd April 2021 from 10am – 12pm. (Breaking for school holidays.) A free to access therapeutic course. All materials supplied for quilt-making. Limited numbers due to Covid-19 restrictions. To express interest or for further information, contact: 01992 537 344 or drop us a line by…
A 12-week Art Therapy jewellery making course starting on Wednesday 14th April 2021 from 10am – 12pm. (Breaking for school holidays.) A free to access therapeutic course. All materials supplied for jewellery-making. Limited numbers due to Covid-19 restrictions. To express interest or for further information, contact: 01992 537 344 or drop us a line by…
6-week course starting on Tuesday 20th April 2021 from 10.30am – 12.30pm. Designed to offer flexible skills that are applicable to parenting children of all ages and can be adapted to the specific needs of parents in the group. To express interest or for further information, contact: 01992 537 344 or drop us a line…
A wonderful effort by Suzy Harvey and a team of keen seamstresses who took it upon themselves to receive donations of unwanted materials from the public, friends, colleagues and businesses and turn them into scrubs, made with love, for our amazing NHS. Suzy took up the call for help after seeing another group doing similar…
Recognising the signs of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse includes patterns of physical violence, controlling, threatening and coercive behaviour, that can also be emotional, economic, psychological or sexual. Isolation is a key tool for perpetrators in controlling their victim. COVID-19 has leant itself to this form of abuse escalating, as people can’t just leave the house.…
Courtesy of an emergency grant from the Hertfordshire Community Foundation I am delighted to announce free to access appointments for counselling for those experiencing or who have experienced domestic abuse. In these challenging times of being isolated and thrown together sometimes there is a need to engage with counselling to ease the situation. Call our…
We were delighted to have our Patron, The Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss, CBE and Diana Kirsch, Director of Probono at the University of Hertfordshire, attend the official launch of The Family Law Clinic at Vale House. Appointments are already filling up quickly and we look forward to a long and happy partnership with the…
Future Living Hertford is excited to announce the introduction of it’s accredited Level 4 Programme, in conjunction with the University of Hertfordshire. The course will be spread over twelve weeks and based at the charity’s HQ in Hertford offering its first 12 places from January/February 2020. It is a really good choice when considering social…
We have launched an appeal to top up our funds for the Young Hearts Relationship programme to be delivered in secondary schools in the New Year. We have reached a large portion of our goal – £4706 – but need to raise a further £1000. Can you help? We have set up a Golden Giving…
Thank you to all those people who attended our AGM today – it was truly inspiring listening to Ryan Hart sharing his sad story about family coercive control and where it can lead. An emotional journey for us all alongside Ryan – we thank him for sharing his sadness and a message to all. We…