Coronation Street cast shares emotional message for domestic abuse victims

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Coronation Street’s cast has shared an emotional message of support to domestic abuse victims amid the coronavirus lockdown.

Actors past and present joined forces, along with Women’s Aid, to highlight the help available to victims of domestic abuse, especially when many may feel stuck in the house with their abuser.

On the soap, Yasmeen Metcalfe (Shelley King) has been suffering abuse at the hands of her husband Geoff (Ian Bartholomew).

She’s been controlled by Geoff for the better part of a year and has since been planning her escape. However, her situation represents reality for many victims in the UK.

Alongside Shelley, actresses Sair Khan (Alya Nazir), Sally Dynevor (Sally Metcalfe), Sally Carman (Abi Franklin) and former Corrie star Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper) came together to share a message of support.

The world is going through a really difficult time right now and many of us are isolated at home,’ Sair began.

‘For anyone who’s experiencing domestic abuse, it is no doubt terrifying to be isolated with an abuser,’ Sally continued.

The actresses went on to highlight the help available, including the emergency services’ silent solution – where callers can call 999 and press 55. The police will know it’s an emergency and put them through to their local police force.

They added that Women’s Aid is available to help, including an online chat or email service, which connects users to experts ready to offer advice.

The message finished with Sally saying: ‘There is help out there, and you don’t have to do this on your own.’

It was recently reported that calls to the National Domestic Abuse helpline have surged by 25% during a five-day period of the coronavirus lockdown, according to charity Refuge.

Visits to the website nationaldahelpline.org.uk also shot up 150% compared with the last week in February.

Refuge chief executive Sandra Horley said that 1.6 million women experienced domestic abuse last year, ‘and self-isolation has the potential to aggravate pre-existing abusive behaviours by perpetrators’.

Domestic violence helpline

For emotional support, you can contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247. Alternatively, you can email Women’s Aid: [email protected].

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