A DOMESTIC abuse survivor is using her experiences to launch a new programme designed to empower women and help them find themselves again.

Kim Bailey, 51, from Basildon, said she always knew she had a gift in talking to people and helping them see things from a different angle, and realised she wanted to help people as a career.

It comes after new figures revealed more than 6,000 children in Essex are living in homes with domestic violence.

Kim said: “Ever since I was a child people that were sad would talk to me and I would open my mouth and find that words would just flow out without me thinking about it and I would show them a different way to view their current situation and they would smile and laugh.

“Shortly after I discovered that I had helped them let go of what was hurting them.”

Kim then trained as a counsellor before setting up Purple Genie Life Coaching Services.

The WOW programme - Wise Optimistic Women - is a 12-week domestic abuse recovery programme with the aim of supporting women to achieve a long-term goal and allowing them to explore their consciousness and thought process, to essentially break the chain of abuse and bring themselves to realise their worth.

The programme even includes pamper sessions and tips on to start a business.

She said: “I grew up in a home as a child where there was domestic violence and abuse.

“After my son was born I found myself in a very toxic relationship and was terrified that history was repeating itself.

“I had an ‘a ha’ moment and gathered my strength and walked away from ‘the dream family’ I had created in my mind, as my life felt like it had turned into a living nightmare.

“There was so much I didn’t understand, I had so many questions, so when I was 30, without any qualifications I enrolled onto a counselling course and did my placement with Parklands Women’s Aid - now Changing Pathways.

“I wanted to make a difference to women like my mum and families like ours.

“Now I’m a trainer and deliver my own programmes so that I could share the insights and realisation that I had from my own life experience.

“Our communities have to come together and unite and have a voice. “

When there is violence in the homes both the adults and the victims suffer.

While people like Kim want to help the women there are also calls fro more to be done about the children.

The NSPCC is calling on the government to recognise the 6,091 children living with domestic abuse in Essex as victims under law.

Under Essex County Council control there are 4,580 children living with domestic violence, with 876 in Thurrock and 635 in Southend.

The charity claims a Government paper on domestic violence ignores the effect growing up in abusive households has on children, despite it being a factor in more than half of child protection assessments across England last year.

The children’s charity is urging the Government to publish its Domestic Violence and Abuse White Paper without delay and recognise children as victims in its domestic abuse laws.

Almudena Lara, head of policy at the NSPCC, said: “It is quite astonishing that the government is dragging its feet when deciding whether to recognise young people as victims when almost a quarter of a million children that we know of are living with domestic abuse in England alone.

“As well as the day-to-day distress that living with domestic abuse creates, it can cause long-term problems into adulthood that can only be addressed through targeted services that understand the complex trauma children living with domestic abuse experience.

“For this to be done effectively we need government to open their eyes to the harm domestic abuse has on children and give them victim status in the upcoming white paper to ensure they receive the services they need.”

Adults concerned about a child living with domestic abuse can contact the NSPCC Helpline confidentially for advice and support on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk If you are interested in learning more about WOW call Kim on 07544 558376