Government VAWG Strategy risks leaving older victim-survivors "unseen"

Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity focused on ending the abuse of older people, says the Government’s newly published Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy is a long-awaited step forward - but warns it does not yet set out how abuse in later life will be recognised and tackled in practice.
The Strategy sets an ambition to halve VAWG over the next decade and focuses strongly on preventing abuse early, improving education and stopping perpetrators. Hourglass welcomes that direction - but says the delivery story is still largely written around younger victims, meaning older victim-survivors risk being left behind.

Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass, said: “We welcome the fact the Government has set out a ten-year strategy and a clear ambition to reduce violence and abuse. But if the goal is to halve VAWG, it cannot ignore the fastest-growing part of our population - older people - and the very different ways abuse shows up in later life.”

What Hourglass welcomes:

• A clear national ambition and a cross-government approach.

• A strong focus on prevention and early intervention, including tackling harmful attitudes.

• Recognition that everyone in society has a role, including adults and “older generations”.

• Hourglass is named in the Strategy’s support list and a case study is published in supporting documentation - an important acknowledgement that older people need specialist help too.

Hourglass is concerned that the Strategy:

• Barely mentions older victim-survivors, despite the UK’s ageing population and rising need.

• Does not clearly explain how abuse in later life fits within VAWG delivery - including the role of health, social care and adult safeguarding, which are often the first (and sometimes only) services older people come into contact with.

• Risks missing people already living with harm now, because prevention activity is largely centred on children and young people.

Hourglass explains that this is important as abuse in later life can include domestic abuse, coercive control, sexual abuse and economic abuse - often made worse by disability, dementia, dependency, isolation and barriers to disclosure. Older victim-survivors may not describe themselves as victims at all, and they may be less able to leave safely without the right support in place.

Hourglass’s own service data shows the scale and the difference:

• Since 2020, Hourglass has supported more than 32,000 older victim-survivors.

• Demand for the 24/7 helpline has more than doubled over the same period.

• 44% of alleged perpetrators recorded by Hourglass are adult children - a pattern that does not fit the public stereotype of abuse.
  (All figures are drawn from Hourglass service data.)

Hourglass joins many in the VAWG sector in calling for stronger delivery and sustainable investment. Refuge and Women’s Aid have already warned that the Strategy does not go far enough and that funding for specialist services remains inadequate, with Women’s Aid calling for ring-fenced investment, including for “by and for” services supporting black and minoritised women and for child victims.

The Children’s Commissioner welcomed positive steps for children, including the development of “Child Houses” - underlining the need for age-specific approaches at every life stage.

Hourglass is calling on Government to strengthen delivery by:

• Naming abuse in later life clearly within the VAWG framework and delivery plans.

• Making older victim-survivors visible in policy, data and accountability measures.

• Embedding age-competent, trauma-informed training across health, social care, policing and courts.

• Investing in specialist support and pathways that work for older people, including those with care and support needs.

• Ensuring long term funding pathways that sustain and invest in specialist services like Hourglass. A current six month funding proposal for 2026/27 puts jobs at risk.

Veronica Gray, Deputy CEO and Policy Director of Hourglass, added: “A strategy that doesn’t work for people in later life isn’t a strategy that works for everyone. We stand ready to work with Government on practical changes - so older victim-survivors are seen, believed, and supported.”

If you or anyone you know is affected by abuse call our free 24/7 confidential Helpline

0808 808 8141

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