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Help The Hungry: The women suffering with 'no escape' during lockdown

Advance
Advance

The plight of people living with domestic abuse and facing “no escape” during lockdown has been one of the most disturbing elements of the pandemic.

A mother of two who was abused by her partner for 23 years has told The Independent she would never have survived if it wasn’t for a domestic abuse charity that rescued her three years ago – and that she feared for women who were abused during lockdown.

Christina* told how her partner was arrested in 2017 after her child, who witnessed the abuse, called the police. When officers arrived at her home they were accompanied by experts from Advance, a domestic abuse charity that has received food donations from The Felix Project, our appeal partner. Four years later and Christina is still facing her ex in court. “I cannot imagine what it is like for families going through what I went through, but during lockdown and facing no escape – it must be torturous,” she said.

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According to the police, charges and cautions for domestic violence have risen 24 per cent since 9 March compared with last year. Hestia, a charity that provides refuges across London, said it had seen a 60 per cent increase in referrals since February.

Tamara White, area manager at Hestia, said: “We expect it will get higher still as lockdown starts to lift because we know there are people who have not been in a position to leave.”

She said financial constraints heaped on pressure. “It’s leaving people reliant on us and our ability to work with partner agencies to ensure that they have food to eat. We’re supporting families who come to a refuge and have nothing.”

Elizabeth Edhodaghe, service manager at Solace Women’s Aid, said some people who find sanctuary at their multiple-needs refuge are in “extreme poverty”. “The Felix Project is essential for us,” she said. “We were so happy when we knew they were still going to be delivering during the lockdown – it was a big relief. A lot of the women struggle with low self-esteem, but the food donations make them feel that there are people out there who care.”

Christina told The Independent that years after her partner was arrested, she is still in debt. “I was on a very low income and had an abusive partner who wasn’t bringing anything to the table,” she said.

“I used to scrape around at supermarkets waiting for the 90 per cent off to make sure I could feed my children and him before myself.”

She added: “There was physical violence – I got punched, kicked, my hair pulled and I was threatened with a knife. Every other weekend he’d say my children were going to be taken away. You live in a state of fear that everything this man is saying is going to happen.”

Niki Scordi, CEO of Advance, said that domestic abuse takes many forms, including emotional, psychological or financial manipulation.

“Isolation is a key part, stopping a woman from seeing family and friends, from leaving the house or having access to money, to a phone or food. The lockdown that keeps us in the home means women and children are more isolated than ever.”

She said Advance was raising awareness by sharing stories of people abused portrayed by actors. “We’ve had situations where women have left, but they are in debt and struggling to keep a roof over their head. There are a lot of people who are hungry. The risk is that they feel like they have no choice but to go back. We’re making sure that people have access to food with The Felix Project.”

When asked what advice she would give to someone in a situation similar to hers, Christina said to call the police.

“If you’re on lockdown and you want to call your mum but can’t because he’s listening to every word, you feel blocked in. I took all the help that was offered from Advance because I knew that if I didn’t get out, I would be dead. My children see me as a different woman, not just a punching bag. There is life after domestic abuse – and it’s a good one.”

The Independent is encouraging readers to help groups that are trying to feed the hungry during the crisis. Find out how you can help here. Follow this link to donate to our campaign in London, in partnership with the Evening Standard.

*Christina’s name has been changed.

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