I am organising a Step4Change challenge on International Women’s Day alongside my colleagues and friends to raise funds for Refuge, an organisation committed to fighting domestic violence. Having endured domestic abuse for over a decade, this cause holds deep personal significance for me. Domestic abuse has taken away parts of my identity, yet like many others, I understand that regaining back control over our lives is not something we can always achieve alone. Now that I have escaped those circumstances, it is incredibly meaningful for me to help those who are still working to break free. Support systems have been crucial for me, and I wouldn’t have been able to leave those toxic situations without them. These discussions can often be challenging, but for me, they are an integral part of my journey, and the more we raise awareness, the greater our chances of saving lives. Together, we are more powerful in advocating for change.

1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime and on average one woman is killed every 5 days in England and Wales by a current or former partner.

Refuge is the largest single provider of specialist services to survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based abuse and runs the freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline that provides the first step to women escaping abuse. 

By kindly sponsoring me today you are stepping up to support women and their children experiencing domestic abuse this International Women's Day.

How your donations helps:

- £10 could pay for a mobile phone top up for a woman who is unable to use her use old phone due to it being tracked

- £15 could give a woman arriving at a refuge the essentials she needs for her first night

- £30 could buy new clothes for a child who arrives a refuge with nothing except the clothes on their back

- £52 could provide a woman and her children a safe night's stay in a refuge