Hi! I'm Crystal, a GP trainee in Berkshire! 

Those who know me will know that safeguarding victims of domestic violence has been an issue close to my heart for some time, and this year I have convinced my cousin Sophia to do something (slightly crazy) with me. 

As everyone celebrates this festive season, we will be shaving off all of our hair for the new year (and probably regretting it for the whole of 2022… because that’s how long it will take for my hair to grow back 🥲), and live streaming the entire process to raise money for the wonderful DASH Charity who support victims of domestic violence!

Help us to reach our fundraising target to support more women and children who are trapped with their perpetrators. Helping women and children has always been difficult, but as the COVID pandemic continues, there are more that need help  than ever before.

Each week, two women are murdered by their partners in England and Wales. One in four women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lifetime. 

Dash is a local charity helping people in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, providing safe houses, emotional support, education and empowerment to help end domestic violence.  So all donations big or small are hugely appreciated, to help more women like this! 

Femi's story: "I came into refuge last year after police were called by my neighbour. My partner had beaten me for over 4 hours – I really thought my life was over. The only thing that kept me alive was knowing I had to get my baby out of there and away from this monster before he got hurt too. I took ages to get to refuge – to be honest I didn’t care where I went as long as were safe, but I was petrified. I didn’t know what to expect and thought I would be put in a hostel-type place.

When I met Tracey and Karen I immediately knew everything was going to be ok. They welcomed us and explained what refuge was and showed us to a lovely room, where they had put a cot and teddy there for my son.

They gave us food, introduced us to the other families in the house and reassured us. They said they would help us get my benefits sorted and help me get orders through the court to make sure we were safe from my ex-partner. They took me to the doctors, the Health Visitor came to see us and we started going to the Children’s Centre where I met other new mums.

It was hard, I was away from my family and I felt lonely – but I am now in a lovely flat, have some nice friends and am hoping to go back to work once my son starts at nursery. I will forever be grateful to Dash for helping me when I needed it most- they really understood me and how hard it was to leave. My advice to others is to leave, you deserve better and you can be happy again! It’s not love, it’s control – but get advice from the experts like Dash rather than waiting like me, hoping things will get better."