Supporting women

How do you support women who are experiencing domestic violence? Find out about Furnishing Futures, the charity that helps women escape their homes.

An increasingly alarming struggle

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) study, one in three women (35%) have experienced some type of physical and/or sexual violence from their partner or a third party. This violence did not happen overnight. Today, if we know that so many women are subjected to aggression, it is because they can speak out and escape from the hands of their tormentors.

Throughout the world, we can see that this fight is carried out in different ways to help women. As women are increasingly being considered and listened to by law enforcement, they may have to turn to other solutions to get out. In the UK, the situation is even more worrying. The latest figures show that two out of three women aged between 16 and 34 have been victims of violence. Most of them are unable to leave the house. They often have children, no one to turn to, and no way to find a new home.

Furnishing Futures, a hopeful solution

Emily Wheeler, a former architect, and social worker decided in 2019 to create Furnishing Futures. Based in London, this initiative aims to house women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. The organization recovers furniture for free from stores, stylists, or designers. Some of the furniture is resold to renovate the homes, others are used to move into the homes. A young woman, named Larissa (not her real name), was suffering from marital aggression while she was expecting her first child. She finally managed to leave her partner and found herself in an empty studio. However, thanks to donations from Furnishing Futures, she and her baby are now living in better conditions.

For Emily Wheeler, domestic violence is one of the last issues the UK is dealing with. By 2021, the domestic violence figure would have risen to 6.9%. For women who leave their partners, finding a decent home is complicated and only 2% of social housing is rented furnished or partially furnished. Emily and her team have converted 18 units so far. We hope this initiative will inspire others to make tomorrow’s world a better place!

Source: Positive News, Furnishing Futures

Credit photo: Furnishing Futures

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