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Sir Patrick Stewart launches an appeal to protect vital domestic violence services

 

Refuge patron, Sir Patrick Stewart, has voiced his concern that ongoing cuts to public spending are threatening life-saving domestic violence services. In a moving article in The Guardian, Patrick writes about the importance of protecting these services, which help thousands upon thousands of women and children to escape abuse and rebuild their lives.

 

Patrick became patron of the national domestic violence charity, Refuge, in 2007.  As a young child, he witnessed violence against his mother, an experience which motivated him to speak out for the thousands of women and children who continue to experience domestic abuse in the UK today.  You can read about Patrick's childhood experiences in a brave and honest article he wrote for The Guardian in 2009 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/27/patrick-stewart-domestic-violence)

 

Refuge opened the world's first safe house for abused women and children in Chiswick, West London, in 1971.  Since then we have grown to become the country's largest single provider of specialist domestic violence services.  We support over 1,600 women and children on any given day.

 

Demand for our services is relentless.  One woman in four will experience abuse at some point in her life.  This means that someone you know - a sister, daughter, friend, colleague, or neighbour - could be at real risk.  Two women are killed by a current or former partner every week in England and Wales.  And in over 50% of known domestic violence cases, children are also directly abused. 

 

Ongoing cuts to public spending are putting vital domestic violence services at real risk. As The Guardian recently reported (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/31/domestic-violence-victims-risk-cuts?newsfeed=true) 31% of local authority funding has already been slashed.  On an average day last year, 230 women were turned away from refuges because there was not enough space for them.  The impact of the funding crisis will be nothing less than devastating.  Women and children who are unable to access vital support will be trapped in the terrifying grip of domestic violence - and more lives will be lost to this horrific crime. 

 

The situation is critical.  Refuge desperately needs your support to help sustain its life-changing and life-saving services for women and children.  Please give generously.  Your support really will make a difference.

 

On behalf of Sir Patrick, and the countless women and children Refuge supports - thank you. 

 

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Refuge is a national charity for women and children who experience domestic violence, providing emergency accommodation and emotional and practical support. Since opening the world's first women's safe house in London in 1971, Refuge has grown to become the UK's largest organisation of its kind, helping and supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence and acting as a national 'lifeline' for up to 80,000 victims of domestic abuse every year.

Donations 217

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Donation by Nick Schneble on 02/12/12

£100.00

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I have always been a fan and have had the utmost respect for Patrick Stewart - now even moreso!

Donation by Carol Webster on 16/09/12

£100.00

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Donation by Sarah Loewenbein on 20/06/12

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

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My Mum was a victim of spousal abuse and i'm proud to donate to this cause!

Donation by Katherine Whittle on 19/04/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Donation by Anonymous on 15/04/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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I am only just discovering dv's true extent and effect. Have felt physically sick about some of the things I have learnt over the last week.

Donation by Kathryn Fisher on 02/04/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation by Emily Gray on 30/03/12

£5.00

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Well done for all your work Patrick. This one's for my Mum. Happy mother's day :-)

Donation by Sarah Williams on 16/03/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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Donation by Eleanor Taylor on 08/03/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Donation by Julia Farrington on 07/03/12

Donation by Anonymous on 03/03/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Donation by Deborah O'Sullivan on 23/02/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Donation by Christine Brown on 13/02/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Donation by Clare Atkinson on 13/02/12

£30.00

+ £7.50 Gift Aid

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Sir Patrick, your support is wonderful. From an Aussie woman to the women of the UK...keep going! I hope Refuge is a huge success.

Donation by Heather Smyth on 13/02/12

£10.00

DV - so many women & children but still so misunderstood & a society still in denial. Real men speak out and don't collude. Thank you to Sir Patrick

Donation by Deana Whalley on 11/02/12

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Donation by Anonymous on 11/02/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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Donation by Philip Hyde on 10/02/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Such a worthwhile cause not given enough attention.

Donation by Anonymous on 10/02/12

Donation by R Granger on 10/02/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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thank you, Sir Patrick, for using your fame to support women who are most in need.

Donation by Albertine Davies on 09/02/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation by B Lione on 09/02/12

£40.00

+ £10.00 Gift Aid

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Well done Patrick for so publicly supporting this cause. Excellent article in the Guardian .

Donation by ANNE WALTON on 09/02/12

£20.00

Donation by Edward Offerman on 09/02/12

£100.00

+ £25.00 Gift Aid

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Donation by LJB on 08/02/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£6,852.72
  • Offline donations£5,800.00
  • Text donations£0.00
  • Total raised£12,652.72
  • Gift Aid£1,427.68

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.