Dewis Choice Newsletter
Holidays & help
📩 What's Inside this Newsletter
• Helpful holiday resources for practitioners
• A prestigious award for our team
• Highlights from the 16 Days of Activism
• A new milestone for 2025
💡 Resources to Support Practitioners Over the Holidays
The holiday season can be tough for many, especially for older victim-survivors, who can feel further isolated during this time. Practitioners often provide vital support during this time, so here are some key resources to help you:
- Transforming the Response to Domestic Abuse in Later Life
A comprehensive guide for professionals working with older people experiencing domestic abuse. It includes insights for practitioners in domestic abuse services, health, social care, and justice sectors.👉 Read the guidance here
- Domestic Abuse and Dementia Toolkit: Recently updated, this toolkit supports practitioners working with older individuals facing domestic abuse and dementia.👉 Read the toolkit here
- Adapted Duluth Wheel
This poster highlights older people’s experiences of domestic abuse by intimate partners and adult family members. It’s based on the lived experiences of over 90 victim-survivors who engaged with Dewis Choice. 💜👉 View the poster her
☎️Helplines
Our office will be closed from 20th December to 2nd January, but these services are here to help:
- Police / Ambulance – 999
- Samaritans – 116 123
- Age UK – 0800 678 1602
- LiveFearFree based in Wales – 0808 801 0800
- Shelter – 08000 495 495
- Rape Crisis – 0808 500 2222
- MIND – 0300 123 3393
🗞️Our news🗞️
Congratulations to Elize Freeman, Co-Lead of Dewis Choice, for receiving a prestigious award in memory of a Welsh woman who campaigned for women’s rights worldwide. 🗞️Read about it here
🎗️White Ribbon Day 2024
This year, we teamed up with Aberystwyth University Student Services and the Students’ Union to launch a powerful campaign to help end violence against women and girls. 🗞️Read about it here
🧠Education is Prevention
Elize Freeman spoke about tackling domestic abuse across generations, highlighting how “education is prevention” in bridging the gap in the support older victim survivors receive. 🗞️Read about it here
🌍 Global Impact
Rebecca Zerk, Co-Lead of Dewis Choice, recently presented at the Sexual Violence Response & Prevention Learning Exchange – part of the Europe tour for Sexual Assault Services Victoria, Australia. A step forward in global collaboration for ending sexual violence!
💜International Men's Day
This year we celebrated the men playing a crucial role in supporting survivors of domestic abuse, yet few work in this sector. 👉View the post here
📢Have your say!
The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales wants to hear from older people across Wales about the change and improvements they’d like to see, to help identify four key national outcomes to provide a focus and strategic approach to action. This will shape her Work Plan and the action she takes as Commissioner. The questionnaire can be completed by phone, post, or online.
🗓️ Closing date: Friday, 28 February 2025 👉 Visit: www.olderpeople.wales/haveyoursay
🎉 Looking Ahead to 2025
We’re proud to have trained over 25,000 people to build safer, more supportive communities. 🙌 Here’s to another year of creating positive change, together! 💪
Our 16DaysOfActivism Recap
🎥 We’ve been raising awareness and taking action against gender-based violence. Our work continues every day. 👉 Watch Our Video On Instagram: HERE
💡 Advice for practitioners
Need confidential support or advice about domestic abuse in later life? Whether it’s about legislation, prevention, detection, or wellbeing options, our team is here to help. please contact us at choice@aber.ac.uk
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SEASONS GREETINGS!
From all of us at Dewis Choice, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Thank you for your incredible work supporting older people facing domestic abuse. Together, we’re making a real difference. 💜
The Dewis Choice Team 🎄
Stay connected
For regular updates or to get in touch, follow us on:
🔵 We’re Now on Bluesky! 👉 Stay connected and follow us on Bluesky to keep up with our work supporting older people facing domestic abuse.
🔵 Bluesky: @choiceolderppl
🔗Linked In: @choiceolderppl
🐦 Twitter / X: @choiceolderppl
👥Facebook: @choiceolderppl
📸Instagram: @choiceolderppl
✉️ Email: choice@aber.ac.uk