“I thought I was too old to ask for help. After so many years, I had begun to believe nothing would ever change. Women’s Aid Luton helped me realise that abuse is never acceptable, and that it is never too late to rebuild your life.”
Margaret had been married for over 35 years and had experienced coercive control, emotional and financial abuse for much of that time. Her partner controlled the household finances, monitored her movements and regularly undermined her confidence.
As her children were now adults and living independently, Margaret felt isolated and believed domestic abuse services were mainly for younger women with children. She had never reported the abuse and was worried that nobody would understand her situation.
After seeing information on our website that stated the service supports women of all ages, Margaret felt encouraged to contact the helpline.
How did we support Margaret?
The team were able to:
- Provide a safe, confidential space for Margaret to talk about her experiences.
- Help her understand the signs and impact of coercive control and financial abuse.
- Develop a personalised safety plan.
- Support her to explore her housing and legal options.
- Help her access specialist advice regarding finances and future independence.
- Provide ongoing emotional support and advocacy.
- Connect her with other support services to reduce her isolation and build confidence.
Margaret now feels more informed about her rights, has increased confidence in making decisions about her future and knows where to access support when she needs it.
“For years I thought I just had to put up with it. Women’s Aid Luton helped me understand that what I was experiencing was abuse and that I deserved support. I finally feel hopeful about the future.”