This poem is a kaleidoscopic view of my ‘life’. I wrote it after I was diagnosed with kidney and brain cancerous tumours. My childhood home environment was plagued with an abusive father who would beat my mother regularly and treated her like a second-class citizen. I used to climb up my favourite mango tree in …
Yesterday (9th August 2018) the Government announced they will continue to fund supported housing through housing benefit, meaning refuges that would have otherwise closed will be able to remain open. Refuges, as well as other support services, are essential for those fleeing or affected by domestic abuse, and can save a person’s life. As the …
We’ve partnered with Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland! As part of our mission to raise awareness of the staggering amount of domestic abuse and sexual violence still happening in the UK today, we’re aiming to take the UK SAYS NO MORE campaign to every corner of the country. This coming October, we’ll be heading over …
Read Margaret V Aberdeen’s latest blog post, taken from her upcoming book I’ll Never Be Hit Again: I am sick and tired of hearing the ignorance of some people ask a victim of abuse: “Why did you stay?” “Why didn’t you just leave?” “Other people have survived worse.” “Just move on.” “Get over it.” Or “Let …
According to the Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 6 of us experience a mental health issue in any week. In addition, virtually all of us will experience stress in one way or another throughout our lifetime. Stress can be caused by a large number of factors, and can impact every aspect of your day-to-day life. We’re …
We love books and creative writing which showcase work focusing on social issues,; these works bring our attention to stories that matter – those of hardship, injustice, change and revolution. We’re so pleased to be partnering with Retreat West Books, particularly as they launch their anthology The Word For Freedom – a charity anthology of stories celebrating …
We’re proud to announce our latest partner of the campaign, Skye Alexandra House. One of the most vital elements of our partnerships is the opportunity to share resources, sources of support and information, and our sector partners allow us to do just that. In their own words… Skye Alexandra House is a bespoke organisation designed …
The paramount importance of media representation for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence cannot be underestimated. To see stories of abuse and violence told with integrity, truth and accuracy can be cathartic for those who have endured similar horrors. On the flip side, the portrayal of these stories across mainstream and niche media can …
It’s no surprise that developments in technology have revolutionised the way we carry out almost every aspect of our daily lives. From the first email being sent in the 1970s, the introduction of the World Wide Web in 1991, and the first ever mobile phone with internet connectivity launching in 1996, we’ve come a long …
In 2018, we are excited to launch our Know More Podcast – a space to host discussions around domestic abuse and sexual violence and how we can all be part of the solution, hearing from survivors, practitioners and activists who are all working to make real social change. Healing After Sexual Violence with Imogen Butler-Cole We sit down …
6 March 2024 NatWest Group is announcing that starting this week it will offer Safe Spaces to people experiencing economic and domestic abuse in over 360 branches across the UK including NatWest, Ulster Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland branches. Safe Spaces, part of Hestia’s UK Says No More campaign, are designated locations which anyone ...
Nationwide – the largest branch network of any UK banking brand -– will offer Hestia’s Safe Spaces scheme to people experiencing domestic abuse across more than 400 branches across the UK. A recent poll by Nationwide shows almost half (48%) the population have experienced, or know someone who has experienced domestic abuse, with almost one ...
The Home Office has announced that from 31 January 2024, victims of domestic abuse who do not have the financial means to leave their abusers will be able to apply for a one-off payment of up to £500 for essential items to help them and their children flee to safety. For the first time, victims ...
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