Refuge announces Ranvir Singh and Saffron Hocking as new Ambassadors
26May
Refuge, the country’s largest single provider of specialist domestic abuser services, is delighted to announce journalist Ranvir Singh and actress Saffron Hocking as Ambassadors. Both have played an important role in highlighting domestic abuse and violence against women and girls in their respective fields. Ranvir, a prominent journalist, has covered stories on domestic abuse throughout her career, and Saffron, an actress, is currently playing Lauryn, in Top Boy, a young female character who experiences abuse. Ensuring domestic abuse is covered sensitively and accurately both in reporting and in popular culture helps both dispel the myths surrounding it, as well as encourage women to seek help.
In England and Wales, 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime, and 2 women a week will be killed by a current or former partner. Refuge, who support many thousands of women and children every day, want to ensure that every woman in the country who needs specialist support, knows how to access it safely and quickly.
Refuge runs a wide range of specialist services, providing emergency accommodation, culturally specific services, a range of community services and is the sole provider of the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, the gateway to support across the country. Working with ambassadors helps refuge to reach wider audiences and helps ensure no woman or child is turned away from accessing the support they need.
Ranvir Singh said: “As a journalist I know how common domestic abuse is, and the devastating impact it has on women’s lives. Throughout my career I have seen how misogyny underpins so much violence against women and girls, and how pervasive domestic abuse is. Refuge’s work, ensuring all women and children can live a life free from abuse and fear is one that strikes a chord with me, it’s a hugely important cause and I’m grateful to be able to work with Refuge to raise awareness and create much-needed change for women and girls.”
Saffron Hocking said: “When I received the script for the new series of Top Boy, I quickly discovered that my character was going to experience domestic abuse. I knew immediately that I’d need to do my research, to learn as much as I could about this issue, which would help me portray a survivor, and I wanted to get it right. Representing those real-life women who have experienced traumatic things like coercive-control, and economic abuse was so important to me, and it is a responsibility I take very seriously. Refuge helped me to understand the realities of domestic abuse and I’ve learnt so much and continue to learn more every day – sadly, this is a societal issue that needs continuous attention and support – it’s not going away anytime soon”
Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, Refuge Chair said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Saffron and Ranvir to our team of Ambassadors, both of whom have been supporting us for some time, and who have a real commitment to ending domestic abuse. Our ambassadors are such a vital part of Refuge; they help us to raise the profile of our work significantly, using their platforms to make sure we are reaching as many women and children as possible.
“Both Ranvir and Saffron are hugely successful in their own fields: Ranvir as a Good Morning Britain presenter, and Saffron who is staring in the series ‘Top Boy’. Saffron’s character experiences abuse and this led to Saffron looking at the realities of abuse and the trauma women face, she knew then that she had to do something to help. Ranvir has covered many stories of abuse over the course of her career, and she is absolutely committed to helping us reach more and more women and children who need us.
“Refuge is incredibly grateful to Ranvir and Saffron for giving us their time, their expertise, and their passion. Together, we can do great things.”
ENDS.
For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on email press@refuge.org.uk