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June 3, 2024

Guest Blog

Hello Everyone,

Yes, you guessed it – I have been in hospital again! So boring, I bore myself talking about it so I won’t! but will apologise for radio silence in the last few weeks.

This time, I would like to hand the blog over to one of my subscribers and also a former client of mine who I have worked with and known now for many years. She contacted me to ask if she could put her views across about something that has really triggered her and that she feels strongly about and feels that many of you will feel strongly about too.

Of course, I am so happy to allow her this space to share her thoughts and I would love to give this space to any of you who would also like to have a voice and give your thoughts, concerns and feelings around any of the topics we discuss here. Just email me with your ‘blog’ and I will recreate here – all anonymously, of course.

I will be back real soon, but in the meantime, I hand you over ……..

I wanted to share how some ad campaigns at times can show a lack of empathy under the guise of wanting to come across as experts and as being helpful, actually end up causing more damage than good.

In particular I have come across a trigger ad campaign for a company and product called “Amicable”. Their approach has been disturbing at best and unethical at worst in my opinion. Creating a shock factor by communicating pseudo dialogues, mocking family and loved ones who are actually suffering and trying to help, as often domestic violence hits entire families and victims/survivors who are often isolated from the family and friends but an abusive ex-partner for instance, is now being guilted into not communicating to their loved ones, and those loved ones are being publicly mocked. It isn’t helpful when after years of court battles, once someone find some kind of peace and stability, this sort of ads “Amicable” has been presenting to the public ends up causing more harm than good. This is my story as one of their billboards showing a grand-mother texting her son not to let his ex take her grand-children away, was posted at the handover location where my daughter goes to meet her other parent, in a public place, supervised due to her being hospitalised several times after being in the care of this same parent. It isn’t helpful and only validates the abuse of both the child and the other parent. Where is the voice of the child in all this? Why use these kinds of tactics when a company preaches being experts and being the ones to help? “Amicable” seems more interested in growing their revenue at all costs including that of victims/survivors of abuse.

—

A survivor of domestic violence.

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  • I first met Sharon back in 2000 when I went into a refuge she worked in after fleeing a violent relationship. I had two babies and virtually just a bag of clothes and a few toys with us. She helped me with appointments with the police, solicitors and..

    A survivor of domestic abuse.
  • I was fortunate enough to meet and work with Sharon when she was the Advocacy Manager at Woman’s Trust and I was working for Westminster City Council. During this time Sharon developed and managed the Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service..

    Ainslie O’Connor – Principal Advisor for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet – Adelaide, Australia.
  • Thank you so much for all the support you have given me. You really have been amazing, and to be honest, I wouldn’t have been able to cope with Child Protection without you. The amount of strength you have given me is totally priceless, even with..

    A survivor of domestic abuse.
  • I knew Sharon as a work colleague over ten years ago. At the time, she was supporting vulnerable people, some of them were homeless due to domestic abuse and substance misuse. For me, assisting such people was what anyone in her role would be expect..

    Ted Chanza, Head of Market Operations, Airtel Malawi Ltd, Lilongwe, Malawi, Africa.
  • I have known Sharon for 6 years and have had the pleasure of working alongside her when I chaired the Westminster MARAC. Sharon is a committed, empathetic supporter of women who are or have experienced domestic abuse. She regularly goes the extra m..

    Former Chair of The Westminster MARAC.
  • I was fortunate to have had Sharon as my support worker after 17 years of domestic violence and 4 children that had witnessed and gone through it with me. I was finally strong enough to stand up and protect myself and my children. Without Sharon’s ..

    A survivor of domestic violence.
  • Without the support and constant reassurance of Sharon, I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am forever grateful to her. She is extremely dedicated and knowledgeable, having her on my side when dealing with someone as persistent..

    Anonymous survivor of Domestic Abuse.
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