Loose Women launch powerful new campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse

04 March 2024 , 16:16

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Loose Women launch powerful new campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse

Loose Women is launching a domestic abuse awareness campaign this week, with some of the panel said to open up about their experiences in a short film on the ITV show.

The campaign, Facing It Together, guided by the charities Women's Aid and SafeLives, aims to highlight the help that is available to those living with domestic abuse. It also aims to educate people on the signs of such abuse and ways that they can support loved ones who may be experiencing it.

It will be the focus of a special episode of Loose Women on Tuesday afternoon. For the new campaign, eight of the talk show's panellists took part in an emotive photoshoot and short film, with them sharing in a promotional clip: "Whether you are a survivor or a friend, we are facing it together."

The clip was unveiled by ITV on Monday afternoon. During the video ahead of the campaign's launch, it's stated that one in four women will experience domestic abuse and that one in seven men have experienced some form of it too.

Brenda Edwards, 55, Charlene White, 43, Denise Welch, 65, and Frankie Bridge, 35, feature in the campaign. They are joined by their colleagues Judi Love, 43, Kelle Bryan, 48, Olivia Attwood-Dack, 32, and Sunetra Sarker, 50.

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Announcing the campaign, ITV said: "Denise, Olivia, Kelle and Brenda, all four of whom have personally experienced domestic abuse, stand shoulder to shoulder with their fellow panellists and friends - in a show of support and solidarity with those currently facing domestic abuse, as well as survivors, and to let them know that they're not alone."

Loose Women's Facing It Together campaign has been supported by Brenda Edwards (top left), Denise Welch (top centre left), Charlene White (top centre right), Sunetra Sarker (top right), Kelle Bryan (bottom left), Frankie Bridge (bottom centre left), Judi Love (bottom centre right) and Olivia Attwood-Dack (bottom right) (ITV)

It adds that the special on Tuesday will show Denise, Kelle and Olivia "bravely open up on their personal accounts of domestic abuse" in the short film that will play during the show. Their co-stars Charlene, Frankie, Judi and Sunetra will "explain why they are supporting the campaign".

During the live show, Charlene, Brenda and Kelle, as well as two other panellists, will discuss "how we can all gain a better understanding of the types of domestic abuse - from knowing what to say, how to speak up and help people living with domestic abuse so no one has to suffer in silence".

Sally Shelford, editor of Loose Women said: "We're always proud to represent the issues facing our viewers at home. We hope that this campaign gives a voice to the many survivors and those living with abuse, as well as empowering their friends and family to know the best ways they can help and approach these difficult conversations. We really hope that our campaign helps both survivors and their friends and family face it together."

Suzanne Jacob, the CEO of SafeLives, said: "National campaigns like 'Facing It Together' are so important. Abusers will tell you no one cares about you, no one will believe you and you have no one else. The Loose Women panel are making it clear that is absolutely not true. You are not alone. And there is life after abuse. Domestic abuse thrives when it is behind closed doors. If you're worried about someone - don’t wait for them to reach out, reach in. Domestic abuse is everyone's business. Only together, can we make it stop."

Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women's Aid, said about the initiative: "We are delighted to be working with Loose Women as they launch their 'Facing It Together' campaign. [...] We know from our work with survivors that so many women don’t report domestic abuse for fear of not being believed, and it falls to us as a society to change this."

Loose Women's 'Facing It Together' special will be broadcast on Tuesday from 12:30pm on ITV and ITVX.

For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk

For confidential support, contact the ManKind Initiative on 01823 334244 (open weekdays 10am to 4pm). The helpline is a listening service which provides emotional support, practical information and signposting. They also have also produced a directory of local services (called the Oak Book) which support male victims and helps to find services in their community. For more information visit Homepage - Mankind

Joel Leaver