Abuse App Idea Generates a Business Competition Win for Shropshire Sixth Formers

Entrepreneurial pupils from a Wem school have reached the final of a national competition by highlighting a little-known form of abuse. The Sixth Form team from Thomas Adams School took part in Drapers’ Den – a Dragons’ Den style business competition run by The Drapers’ Company. The team was matched with a mentor from the company and another from the Guild of Entrepreneurs and tasked with designing a product or service which could be commercially successful and would generate a material social benefit, before pitching for up to £500,000 from a team of investors.

Business Studies teacher Amy Glover said the team recognised the rise of domestic violence during lockdown, and wanted to highlight Child to Parent Abuse in particular. “The team wanted to help raise awareness of this issue and offer an idea to help create a support network for parents. They developed a hidden app which would help victims to network with others, as well as providing tips on how to de-escalate situations and document events.”

The judges were particularly delighted with the team’s presentation and their logo, which one judge said was the best they had ever seen – including within actual businesses. After impressing the judges and winning their semi-final, the team was given £1,000 to donate to an organisation of their choice. Because of the link to their app, they chose PEGS – a Shropshire not-for-profit which raises awareness of CPA, supports families experiencing it, and trains professionals who come into contact with those families.

PEGS Founding Director Michelle John said: “We are extremely grateful to the Thomas Adams team for their generous donation, and we’re also hugely impressed they chose to design a service specifically for parents experiencing CPA.

“We have lots of work to do to ensure CPA is highlighted, as it’s currently quite a hidden form of domestic abuse, but it’s heartening to know we have incredible young people like Maya, Oliver, Holly, Will, Ryan and Charlie helping to raise awareness. Well done to you all, and we can’t wait to hear how you get on in the final.”

The team, which included Maya Balachandran, Oliver Cooper, Will Evans, Ryan Greaves and Charlie Taylor (all aged 17), and Holly Eccleston (aged 18), will now take part in the grand final to be held in May.

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Founding Director, Michelle, has been awarded an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours for Family Support and Advocacy.

By PEGS Admin • June 15, 2026

Child to Parent Abuse organisation founder awarded MBE The founder of a social enterprise which has supported thousands of parents impacted by abusive behaviours from their children has been awarded an MBE. Michelle John, originally from Pembrokeshire in Wales but now based in Shropshire, was among the names announced for the prestigious accolade in the King’s Birthday Honours List this year. In 2020, Michelle set up not-for-profit organisation PEGS with the aim of supporting parents and carers, training professionals, influencing local and national policy, and raising awareness of Child to Parent Abuse – which is thought to affect up to one in ten households in the UK. Since then, she has grown a team of experts who have trained police, social workers, teachers and many other professionals to better recognise the signs of CPA, support parents, and signpost to specialist organisations. In addition, Michelle set up a range of parent-focused initiatives including daily practitioner-led online sessions, a Facebook peer support group which now has 3,300 members, and one-to-one offerings for those at highest risk. PEGS launched a CPA Covenant for employers in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, only the fourth such covenant to be backed by the Government, and Michelle has advised everyone from the Home Office to Channel 4 and the BBC on CPA – the latter for storyline on Hollyoaks and EastEnders. Her work has seen CPA covered by journalists across television news programmes, national newspapers and magazine, and regional press and radio, and she’s received numerous awards both in the UK and internationally. Michelle, whose MBE was awarded for Family Support and Advocacy, said: “This honour is also shared with the parents who have trusted me along the way: they drive me, inspire me and I will always stand with them. “I feel proud, privileged and very grateful – and I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me and PEGS along the way. There is much more to come for PEGS, and we will continue to work every day for the parents and carers who have been or continue to be impacted by CPA. “There is so much to reflect on from the journey of the last six years, and there have been many highlights and challenges along the way. I am sure there will be many more in the future – although being told I’d received an MBE will always remain a truly incredible moment that I’ll remember forever!” For more information about us, visit www.pegsupport.co.uk or search for 'PEGS' on social media!