Raising awareness of Domestic Abuse - LWA Wear, Share Aware Campaign

Since  the third lockdown came into force reports of domestic abuse have continued to rise nationally, with many victims of domestic abuse being forced to isolate with their abuser.  As a result they  are experiencing increased difficulty in being able to access help. This is at a time when we are all being asked to stay at home in order to keep us safe from Covid-19.  For many who are victims of abuse this has become a nightmare  as their home can be the most dangerous place for them to be. With us all being encouraged to work from home and stay at home generally, victims of abuse are now in a position where they have even more limited ways of safely accessing information and help.

As a survivor of domestic abuse himself, Michael Sinclair felt that he wanted to help to make a positive change at a time when life for many has become harder than we can imagine. By teaming up with local charity, Living Without Abuse, he and his Mum are running a new campaign: Wear, Share Aware - to raise awareness of domestic abuse by using social media.

Wear, Share and Aware co-founder Michael Sinclair, 26, said:

“My mum and I are survivors, from the age of 8 – 12 I suffered domestic abuse and after seeing the increase in domestic abuse over lockdown we felt like we needed to do something to help. I’ve realised that if you put trauma to the back of your mind and try to ignore it then it can haunt you, but if you face it and try to help others then it creates positives from what you went through. We are hoping that Wear, Share and Aware not only raises vital funds for LWA but also raises awareness for domestic abuse and the true level of this crime in the UK – if sharing our story and starting this campaign helps one person escape then it’s worth it”.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse, as well as promoting the incredible work that Living Without Abuse do to help victims of abuse. With every £20 donated to Living Without Abuse, through this link, Michael and his Mum are sending out their own hand made t-shirts which advertise the contact details for Living Without Abuse. Their aim is to get everyone who donates and receives a t-shirt, to post a photo of themselves wearing it on their social media platforms, using the hashtag #WearShareAware.

The awareness created by the Wear, Share Aware campaign provides more funding opportunities for the charity as well as getting the message and contact details out there for anyone that may be seeking help with domestic abuse. By simply posting a picture on your social media accounts you could provide a victim of abuse with the information and inspiration that they need to be able to get themselves help and survive abuse.

When you purchase a Wear, Share Aware t-shirt, the money donated will be used by Living Without Abuse to support victims of domestic abuse in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Living Without Abuse provide outreach support, children and family services, including one-to-one and group programmes, for children and adults, sexual violence support services, and much more!

You can find out more on the Living Without Abuse website:    Living Without Abuse

If you are a victim or survivor of domestic abuse or sexual violence reach out to LWA on
08 08 80 200 28 (Monday - Saturday, 8am - 8pm). If you are in immediate danger always call 999.

At Johnson Astills we have a dedicated Domestic Violence and Abuse Department  (DVAD) that can help to provide legal advice to anyone suffering any form of domestic abuse, be it physical, psychological (including controlling, coercive behaviour), emotional, sexual or financial. Please give us a call at on Leicester 0116 255 4855, or fill in our online enquiry form and a member of our DVAD team will be in touch shortly.