Savanta is proud to announce that we have chosen Refuge as our charity of the year. Within the business we will be supporting Refuge with various fund-raising events that will aim to raise funds, as well as simultaneously raising its profile among our employees and within the wider community.
Refuge is a United Kingdom charity providing specialist support for women and children experiencing domestic violence. It was founded in 1971 by Erin Pizzey.
Refuge is the country’s largest single provider of specialist domestic abuse services. The charity supports more than 7,000 women and children on any given day, in a time when domestic abuse has never been higher on the political or the public agenda.
Some critical, if disturbing, facts about domestic violence are shared below:
- For the 12-month period to year ending March 2020, the Crime Survey for England and Wales showed that an estimated 1.6 million women aged 16 to 74 years experienced domestic abuse in the last year
- Almost one in three women aged 16-59 will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime (ONS, Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview: November 2019)
- Two women a week are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales alone (ONS, Homicide in England and Wales: year ending March 2018 (average taken over 10 years)
The impact of domestic abuse on the victim and on children – even once they have achieved safety – is severe and long-lasting. Refuge provides a vital role in supporting those who have experienced violence and abuse though running a range of specialist services to help survivors access safety and rebuild their lives. Their expert staff work closely, and confidentially, with every individual to jointly develop a bespoke emotional and practical support plan. Furthermore, Refuge provides culturally specific services for Eastern European, Vietnamese, African, Caribbean and Asian women.
Savanta’s UK Managing Director, Caroline Hawkings, has said:
“We are delighted to be supporting Refuge in its incredibly important work. This charity provides a vital service to those who live with abuse, offering the right type of support they need, enabling them to break free from their abuser and start a new life. The pandemic has resulted in their services being relied on more than ever, and we are privileged to play a role in helping them at this critical time.”
If you wish to learn more about Refuge, then please click on the link below: