The Duchess of Cornwall meets domestic abuse victims at SafeLives
On Wednesday 27 January, The Duchess of Cornwall will visit national domestic abuse charity SafeLives; hearing from victims of domestic abuse, and the friends and family of women killed by their partner or ex-partner.
The Duchess will also meet SafeLives’ staff and supporters, national policymakers, and frontline professionals who work to reduce domestic abuse.
SafeLives’ research shows that every year 100,000 people are at high risk of being murdered or seriously injured by a partner or ex-partner. Behind these statistics, there are those whose lives have been changed forever. The Duchess will hear some of these stories in an honest presentation about the impact of domestic abuse.
The Duchess will listen to the victims as they tell their stories: three of those speaking have lost a loved one to domestic homicide, while another was put in hospital by her partner.
Her Royal Highness will be joined for the visit by the Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation Karen Bradley MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Baroness Williams of Trafford.
SafeLives’ data shows that 85% of victims seek help five times, on average, before getting the right support that will help them become safe. Earlier intervention is fundamental to tackling this hidden crime.
Chief Executive Diana Barran will talk to the guests about SafeLives’ ambitions: to get every victim and child help earlier, to challenge perpetrators to stop and to fill the gaps in service provision for children, young people and older victims.
SafeLives’ Chief Executive, Diana Barran, said:
“We are hugely grateful to both The Duchess of Cornwall and our victim group for taking the time to explore the impact of domestic abuse. It is a damaging and traumatic experience and to talk openly about their stories is remarkably brave. We are delighted that The Duchess of Cornwall will meet them, and find out more about what we’re doing to tackle domestic abuse.
We are committed to finding out what works through evidence and listening to local services, and then making sure every family benefits. We need a huge shift in our response to domestic abuse, as the stories heard today will clearly and tragically demonstrate.”
ENDS
Contact
Media Contact
Head of Communications Penny East, penny.east@safelives.org.uk 07818 593 562
- Images will be available
- Phone interview opportunities available with SafeLives’ Chief Executive, Diana Barran, and victims/friends/family
Notes to Editors
The Duchess of Cornwall will hear from the following victims and friends and family of victims:
- Hetti Barkworth-Nanton who lost her best friend Jo Simpson
- Nadia Salaman and Charmaine Newton
- Celia Peachey
SafeLives
1) SafeLives is a national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse in the UK. The charity's mission is simple - to make sure all people affected by domestic abuse can live safely. SafeLives finds out what works to stop domestic abuse, and then does everything it can to make sure victims and their families benefit.
2) SafeLives emerged from an urgent need to find better ways to help victims of domestic abuse. Before the charity was founded in 2005, the main option for a victim living in fear was to go to a refuge, often leaving her friends, family and community behind. This causes massive disruption to the victim and their family.
3) SafeLives focuses on offering a combination of specialist tailored support from a qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (Idva) and enabling the main statutory agencies to work together, sharing information and resources so that the victim gets coordinated and effective support.
4) In the past year, the charity's work has benefited over 67,500 high-risk victims and their 76,000 children.
5) SafeLives has the largest dataset on domestic abuse in the country.