Victim Support Isle of Man 25th Anniversary & Domestic Abuse Conference – 11th & 12th September 2024
Victim Support Isle of Man are pleased to announce that they will be hosting a two-day conference, kindly sponsored by Douglas Rotary Club on Wednesday 11th & Thursday 12th September 2024.
The first day of the conference is being presented in collaboration with the Isle of Man Domestic Abuse Forum and will focus on the subject of Domestic Abuse. The charity is delighted to announce that the keynote speakers for Day One are Natalie Collins and David Challen.
Natalie is an international speaker and trainer on issues of violence against women and wider gender injustice. Having written numerous training programmes and resources for a wide range of audiences, she is regularly requested as an expert in the field of violence against women, focusing on consciousness and awareness raising, providing quality services to those who have experienced abuse and domestic abuse resources for young people. Her theory and practice is founded in direct work with women and was developed through strategic work with the statutory and voluntary sectors and working with perpetrators.
About the conference, Natalie says, “I am delighted to be joining Victim Support Isle of Man to celebrate 25 years of work on the Isle of Man. It is brilliant that they are highlighting the issue of domestic abuse. While many people think this is a niche subject that rarely impacts most people, in reality it is a crime that affects more people than nearly any other. It may feel like a hard and difficult subject to approach, but as we honour those subjected to abuse and work to prevent further perpetration, we do so in order to build a more hopeful and joy-filled world. How exciting is that?!”
David Challen will be a keynote speaker on both days. David is a domestic abuse campaigner, writer and speaker. He successfully campaigned to free his mother Sally Challen in a landmark appeal recognising the lifetime of coercive control she suffered in 2019. David continues to speak out against men’s violence against women, coercive control and the impact of domestic abuse on children, as well as men’s role in tackling misogyny.
David is an advisor to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales and an Ambassador for the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) and the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse.
David says, “I am thrilled to be attending the 25th anniversary of Victim Support Isle of Man next month. No one imagines becoming a victim of crime, yet many of us can become one at any moment. I will be sharing and discussing my own story of fatal domestic abuse within my family, the impact of it and the importance of coercive control awareness in helping stop escalating acts of violence. In centering the victim’s voices at this event, Victim Support is creating awareness to the vital support they provide communities who they will serve and support in the moments needed most.”
The second day of the conference is a celebration of the work that Victim Support Isle of Man has done over the past 25 years and all that it continues to do and hopes to do over the next 25 years.
Lorna Trevethan, CEO of Victim Support Isle of Man states “The conference is a key event for us as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary during 2024. We are very grateful to Douglas Rotary Club for sponsoring the event and enabling us to bring over two keynote speakers.”
“We believe that it is important to raise awareness about domestic abuse but also highlight the wider work of Victim Support Isle of Man. To have both Natalie and David speak and share their experiences and their work in supporting victims of domestic abuse is fantastic for our island community. I am excited to hear them speak, as well as sharing all we have achieved and hope to achieve over the coming years.”
The conference is free to attend but tickets must be booked in advance through this link: https://buytickets.at/victimsupportisleofman/1319214
Please note that this conference will contain material that may cause upset or trigger emotional responses. There will be people on hand to offer support.
For more information about Natalie Collins, please visit: https://www.nataliecollins.info/mywork
For more information about David Challen, please visit: https://www.davidchallen.com/