Holding Space: a peer support group for older women
Last month, we launched a new peer support group for older women (aged 55 and over) who have experienced sexual violence at any point in their lives.
This group is more than just a meeting – it’s a safe and welcoming space, hosted at the Beehive Centre, where women can come together, share their experiences, support one another, and begin or continue their healing journey.
Blending learning and creativity
Each session is thoughtfully designed to include a mix of psychoeducation around the impacts of trauma and creative expression.
So far, creative activities have included:
- Decorating a self-care bag, which participants can then choose to use or place self-care items inside to help them feel grounded.
- Personalising plant pots, which can either be used as a decorative reminder of growth or be used to nurture a new plant.
Alongside creative activities, the group explores tools and concepts, like the Window of Tolerance. This concept describes the emotional ‘window’ or zone where someone can effectively function and manage stress – between the extremes of overwhelm (hyperarousal) and shutdown (hypoarousal). It’s a powerful way to visualise and understand trauma responses and begin reclaiming agency.
What participants are saying
When asked what they are enjoying most about the group, several of the participants shared:
Valuable shared experiences with other women of a similar age. Friendly and welcoming facilitators and venue.
First time I’ve been with other women who are my age and have similar responses to trauma – loved the craft loved the ‘ME’ time.
Sharing real experiences with other older women who are willing to be vulnerable with each other.
These words speak volumes about the importance of peer support – especially in spaces where voices have long gone unheard.
Why this group matters
At SARSAS, we’ve always challenged the myth that only younger women experience sexual violence. Women can experience rape, sexual assault, and abuse at any point in their lives.
Sexual violence against older women remains shrouded in silence. In the South West of England – and across the UK – older women are rarely seen or heard in the national conversation around sexual violence.
For some, the sexual violence may be ongoing. For others, it may have happened decades ago. Either way, the trauma doesn’t vanish with time – it often lingers, impacting wellbeing, relationships, and mental health for years.
In 2019, SARSAS joined forces with The Women’s Centre Cornwall, Devon Rape Crisis, and Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre for a Comic Relief-funded project. Together, we conducted the first regional survey into the experiences of older women (aged 55+) who have experienced sexual violence across the South West of England.
The findings remain painfully relevant today. You can read the full report here: The Chilling Silence
Breaking the silence
This new peer support group is just one step in addressing the invisibility older women face when it comes to sexual violence. It’s about offering a space to be seen, heard, and valued.
Because #ItsNeverTooLate to get support, even if it happened 50 years ago!
If you’re an older woman looking for support, or if you know someone who might benefit from a group like this, please get in touch. You are not alone, and it’s never too late to begin healing.
Email: info@sarsas.org.uk
Bristol office: 0117 929 9556
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After isn’t After
A little while ago, we received a poem in our inbox. Its words thoughtfully captured a personal experience of sexual violence, and with the author’s permission, we’re sharing it here, knowing it may resonate with many of our followers and supporters.
