Domestic Abuse Exhibition Starts Church Tour at Cathedral this Advent Sixteen stories of domestic abuse victims’ experiences are being curated in an exhibition which will tour the Diocese of Llandaff for the Mothers’ Union campaign. The Llandaff Mothers’ Union has partnered with Restored and LiveFearFree to create awareness and a call to action against gender-based violence in churches around Wales. The ‘Behind Closed Doors’ exhibition covers examples of different types of abuse including physical, psychological, financial, technological, and spiritual. Both female and male experiences from varying communities are represented in the voices of the survivors. Each story is represented by a miniature door by which people can read or listen via a QR code to the account in English or Welsh. The case studies are followed by a short reflection and prayer written by Llandaff Diocesan Mothers’ Union Chaplain Sandra Birdsall. President of Llandaff Mothers’ Union Sue Rivers and lead of the project said, “Mothers’ Union is committed to creating positive change to prevent domestic abuse and support survivors. We have developed this exhibition to address the lack of awareness of the different types of domestic abuse, including spiritual
abuse, and to support those experiencing problems in their relationships by signposting the help available. Case studies of survivor stories are distressing but provide hope, that it is possible to be free of the abuser with prayer and support.” Sue has also been working with the Church in Wales Safeguarding Team to develop Domestic Abuse Guidance that sits within the Church in Wales Safeguarding Policy, Restored, a Christian charity involved in raising awareness of domestic abuse and Welsh Women’s Aid.
Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an international movement supported by the Anglican Church, Mothers’ Union, UN Women and UK Parliament (and many more) that annually runs from 25th November to 10th December. www.mothersunion.org/resources/16days-of-activism
Churches can apply to be a host of the exhibition via https://llandaff. churchinwales.org.uk/domestic-abuse. On Friday 24th November, Llandaff Cathedral will be leading a service for White Ribbon Day to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This begins 16
During the 16 Days, the Behind Closed Doors exhibition will be on display in these locations: Thursday 23rd November – Wednesday 29th November – Llandaff Cathedral Thursday 30th November – Wednesday 6th December – St David’s Church, Neath Thursday 7th December – Sunday 10th December – Eglwys Dewi Sant, Cardiff
Christian Aid Advent Project with Schools and Cathedral Schools in Wales are joining schools all across the UK in responding to climate justice by raising their voice through art. Creative for Climate Justice is a project where young people share their concerns and wishes about justice through their creativity.
Schools are encouraged to share their art with their communities and invite local decision makers as well as MPs or MSs to their exhibition. There is also a chance for their art to be displayed at Westminster on the 6th of December and at the St Davids Chapel in Llandaff Cathedral between the 29th of November and 20th of December. Christian Aid, Oxfam, Cafod and Send My Friend are running this joint project which is supported by The Climate Coalition and Stop Climate Chaos Cymru. There is still time for schools to sign up and the exhibition at Llandaff Cathedral will be open to everybody.
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Christian Aid and Church in Wales education will be launching Global Neighbours Cymru in January 2024. This is a global citizenship accreditation scheme for primary schools in Wales. This scheme builds on and gives recognition to schools already doing great work and aids them in their journey of empowering pupils to be informed, ethical citizens who play their part in challenging global injustice. There will be an addition to the advent project for schools this year about people displaced due to the climate which would be a great way to start in advance on criteria that is detailed in the scheme.
