25th November 2025

Our visit to The Dandelion Project

Recently, our team attended a taster session of the Survivors Steps programme by The Dandelion Project. The Dandelion Project is a safe space for women who have experienced domestic abuse – a place where you can begin your journey of healing, rediscover your strength, and step into freedom.

The project is led by Fi, who is also one of our Healthwatch Essex Trauma Ambassadors. Fi led us through a taster session featuring exercises from different weeks of the programme. She started the session with grounding and arrival exercises to get us settled in. We moved on to different movement exercises designed to build connection and find confidence. We ended with the opportunity to slow down and reflect through quiet time and journaling.

The Survivor Steps programme is for women ready to reclaim their confidence and rebuild trust in themselves. The sessions are in person and are for female survivors of domestic abuse aged 21-55.

Watch the video below to get a taste of what the Survivor Steps programme includes:

In 2026, they are launching a new programme called Move Through This. Move Through This is an ongoing, accessible class for anyone who’s been through trauma — especially those who don’t feel like they fit into mainstream gyms, dance classes or fitness spaces. It’s a gentle, grounding, trauma-aware movement inside a like-minded community. No pressure. No performance. Just a space where women can move, breathe, and feel understood.