HRH, The Duchess of Cornwall announced as Patron of SafeLives
We are delighted to announce Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, as our new Patron.
The Duchess first learnt about the work of SafeLives, at a visit in 2016, where she heard from survivors of domestic abuse, and left with a desire to do what she could to help. She has since been a long-standing ally in our ambition to end domestic abuse for everyone, for good. This year alone, she has helped us celebrate our 15th anniversary with a reception at Clarence House, and supported our #ReachIn campaign, which urges communities to come together and ‘reach in’ to victims of domestic abuse.
The announcement will be made as part of the Women of the World (WOW) Global 24, a free worldwide festival in response to the separation, deprivation and inequalities brought about and exacerbated by Covid-19, this weekend (27-28 June). In a pre-recorded conversation that will be aired on Saturday evening, The Duchess spoke to Suzanne Jacob, Chief Executive of SafeLives, along with Jude Kelly, founder of WOW, and Gina Miller, campaigner and survivor of domestic abuse.
Speaking about the new patronage, Suzanne Jacob, OBE, Chief Executive of SafeLives said:
“I am fiercely proud and hugely honoured to say that Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, has agreed to become our Patron at SafeLives.
“The way that she speaks to people directly and really listens to them helps to unravel some of the harm, the terrible harm that abusive people do to the people they are supposed to love the most. They tell them that they don’t matter, that nobody cares about them, that nobody will believe them, and Her Royal Highness is making it absolutely clear that that is not true. That anybody who lives with an experience of domestic abuse is valuable, is going to be listened to.”
HRH, The Duchess of Cornwall said:
“I want to say how proud I am to have become Patron of SafeLives. SafeLives will always stick in my memory from the first visit I paid there…that was the moment when I thought, goodness I’ve got to do something to help these people.”
The announcement comes at an important time. The last few months have been difficult for everyone. However, for those living with an abusive partner or family member, the lockdown restrictions have been dangerous, traumatic and relentless. New SafeLives’ data from a survey of victims and survivors of domestic abuse asked respondents to rate their safety from 0 to 10 (0=not safe at all, 10=safe). 24% of respondents rated themselves at 5 out of 10, while 29% rated their safety below 5.
“My partner’s temper and stress has increased a lot since the lockdown and I’m the only thing he can take it out on at the moment, he can’t let his stress out in usual ways.”
Victim
The data also shows that almost two-thirds (61%) of respondents have not asked for help since Covid-19 restrictions, with many respondents finding it hard to reach out for support. We know that four out of five victims do not call the police, but many may disclose to friends, family members and employers – if someone reaches out to ask them.
“I’m currently 26 weeks pregnant, stuck in a bedsit with my ex partner. I have no money, or no where to go. I cannot call a helpline for support as my partner will be able to hear me, plus I have telephone anxiety.”
Victim
Diana Parkes, domestic abuse campaigner, who set up the Joanna Simpson Foundation in her daughter’s name, commented:
“I attended a Clarence House lunch reception on 14th July, 2016 when the Duchess told me that:- “It was my experience that had inspired her to campaign to lift the shroud of secrecy over the subject of Domestic Violence.” I was very moved by her comment.”
Celia Peachey, survivors and SafeLives’ Pioneers, also shared their delight at the news, having first met The Duchess at the event with SafeLives in 2016.
Celia Peachey said:
“The Duchess of Cornwall is the perfect patron for SafeLives because she genuinely cares, she knows domestic abuse is everyone’s problem and knows no class. Together we will erase the stigma and open up a much needed dialogue for real change to happen, and make homes safe again. I’m deeply heartened by her joining us in this vital mission to end domestic abuse for everyone, once and for all.”
SafeLives Pioneer Naomi Donald, who has met The Duchess on two occasions this year said:
“I was honoured to have met and spoke with The Duchess of Cornwall on two occasions with SafeLives where she praised me and others for the work we do in the fight against Domestic Abuse on all levels. She was very down to earth and is truly passionate about making sure Domestic Abuse is #EveryonesProblem”
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, help is available.
If you are worried about a friend, family member, neighbour or colleague, find out how you can #ReachIn to tell them you’re there.
For guidance and resources on Covid-19 and DA, visit our dedicated webpage.
For more information and interviews, contact:
SafeLives: Natalie Mantle, Head of Communications, natalie.mantle@safelives.org.uk / 07394560466.
Clarence House: Ella Lynch, Communications Officer, ella.lynch@royal.uk / 020 7930 4832
WOW: Charlie Marshall, Head of Communications and Marketing, charlie@thewowfoundation.com / 07854708338
Notes to editor
About SafeLives
We are SafeLives, the UK-wide charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, for everyone and for good.
We work with organisations across the UK to transform the response to domestic abuse. We want what you would want for your best friend. We listen to survivors, putting their voices at the heart of our thinking. We look at the whole picture for each individual and family to get the right help at the right time to make families everywhere safe and well. And we challenge perpetrators to change, asking ‘why doesn’t he stop?’ rather than ‘why doesn’t she leave?’ This applies whatever the gender of the victim or perpetrator and whatever the nature of their relationship.
Last year alone, nearly 11,000 professionals working on the frontline received our training. Over 65,000 adults at risk of serious harm or murder and more than 85,000 children received support through dedicated multi-agency support designed by us and delivered with partners. In the last three years, over 1,000 perpetrators have been challenged and supported to change by interventions we created with partners, and that’s just the start.
Together we can end domestic abuse. Forever. For everyone.
#ReachIn
Domestic abuse charity SafeLives is running a #ReachIn campaign encouraging people to act if they’re concerned someone they know is experiencing domestic abuse. We know that Covid-19 restrictions have been hard for everyone, but for adults and children living with domestic abuse, opportunities to get support are more limited than ever. That’s why we’re asking people to be alert to domestic abuse, to watch out for the signs and to recognise what they can do to help.
Find out more about the #ReachIn campaign.
About The WOW Foundation
The WOW Foundation was created by Jude Kelly CBE in 2018 to run the global movement that is WOW - Women of the World Festivals. The Festivals began in the UK in 2010, launched by Kelly at Southbank Centre London, where she was Artistic Director, to celebrate women and girls, taking a frank look at what prevents them from achieving their potential, raising awareness globally of the issues they face, and discussing solutions together.
To date, WOW has reached over 2 million people in 17 countries on six continents, in locations including Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Finland, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Somaliland, the UK and the USA. In 2018/19 WOW was in Rio de Janeiro, Cardiff, Bradford, Bangladesh, Brisbane, Janakpur (Nepal),Baltimore, London, Exeter, Norwich, Perth, Beijing, Ghana and Nigeria.
In 2020 WOW’s 10th anniversary festival took place in London.
Over the last 10 years the Festivals have developed a reputation as a space for world renowned artists, activists, thinkers and performers including Angela Davis, Malala Yousafzai, Annie Lennox, Patrick Stewart, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Salma Hayek, to come and participate, alongside thousands of women and girls who don’t have public profiles but are doing amazing things. WOW provides platforms for people of all kinds, changes attitudes, brings communities together and provides a unique space for people to work together towards gender equality in their own communities. One example of the impact the festival has come in 2015, with the founding of the Women’s Equality Party by Sandi Toksvig and Catherine Mayer.
In 2018 Kelly left the Southbank Centre to run The WOW Foundation full time as a charity working to build, convene and sustain a global movement that believes a gender equal world is possible and desirable through festivals and empowering women and girls. The unique festival model creates numerous pathways for participants to take part in WOW projects, amplify their own causes, or start new initiatives which have wide impact on communities. It is the biggest, most comprehensive and most significant festival dedicated to presenting work by women and promoting equality for women and girls.
WOW festivals and events are presented by arrangement with Southbank Centre.
The President of WOW - Women of the World is HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.