Richard Caring to launch campaign to help domestic violence victims

Victims of domestic violence and abuse will receive a vital lifeline over the festive season - thanks to a charity set up by Patricia Caring and restaurant tycoon Richard Caring. 

The couple have teamed up as part of a major campaign to help deliver life-saving change to vulnerable women and children in desperate need.

The Caring Family Foundation (TCFF) has pledged a whopping £225,000 in new grants which will be distributed by the end of the year to deliver a massive boost to a string of organisations providing frontline rescue services.

It comes as charities are bracing for a spike in cases over the Christmas period when those at risk are often at their most vulnerable.

In all, eight organisations will benefit from the cash boost including those who provide specialist services to the most marginalised members of the community.

It means the foundation - set up in 2019 - will have provided £400,000 in domestic abuse services in the past 12 months alone.

Mr Caring - dubbed the King of Mayfair - owns The Ivy brasserie chain. His hospitality business empire also includes top-end London restaurants Scott's, J Sheekey and Sexy Fish as well as world-famous private members club Annabel’s.

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The foundation Co-Chair, Mrs Patricia Caring, said of the initiative: ‘The services these organisations provide are nothing short of life-changing and life-saving, offering hope and healing to women and children when they need it most. 

‘At The Caring Family Foundation, we are deeply committed to supporting local recovery efforts, ensuring these women receive compassionate care and the tools to rebuild their lives.

‘Our vision is a world free from violence against women - a future where every woman and child can thrive without fear or harm.’

The foundation announced the grants to mark this week’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 24).

They said the pledge will help support vital services across the UK and recognises ‘the urgent need to support survivors, especially during the festive season when domestic violence is known to escalate’.

According to the foundation, an average of two women lose their lives every week at the hands of a current or former partner in the UK - while police record a domestic abuse offence every 40 seconds.

A spokesperson for the foundation said the renewed funding commitment ‘seeks to address this surge in need by providing life-saving resources to domestic abuse organisations’.

The domestic abuse fund was first launched last year to support 16 ‘by and for black and minoritised' domestic abuse organisations in partnership with Women's Aid.

In the UK in 2023, more than £250,000 was given in grants, benefitting thousands of women and children.

The new cash injection will help vital and underfunded UK organisations in the coming weeks - distributed among the eight organisations that offer critical support to women and children fleeing abuse.

The foundation said the donations reflect its commitment to ensure survivors ‘can live in safety, with a life free from abuse’.

Donations will help fund the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by the charity Refuge, which offers emergency support and advice to thousands of survivors experiencing domestic abuse across the UK every year.

Other beneficiaries include five Women's Aid member organisations such as Latin American Women’s Aid with funds going towards hiring specialist staff to provide ‘adequate trauma-informed and culturally sensitive services’ to an estimated 96 women in the coming year.

Nikki Bradley, director of services at Women’s Aid, said she was ‘delighted’ the five organisations - which face ‘systemic structural inequalities which compound those faced by survivors themselves’ - will receive grants of up to £30,000 each

She said: ‘These grants will ensure that the selected organisations are able to support even more survivors and increase the accessibility of their services.

‘Grant funding such as this is vital to breaking down these inequalities and delivering lifesaving change. We look forward to continuing to work with the foundation in this area.’

Another charity to benefit is Karma Nirvana which supports survivors of honour-based violence through a national helpline, professional training, and a new national counselling service.

The funding will create ‘a safe and trauma-informed space’ for 52 women through virtual counselling.

The Angelou centre, whose services include four dedicated bed spaces in a life-saving shelter, will also benefit along with Panahghar, which provides refuge, counselling, and immigration support for black, Asian and minority ethnic women.

The Women and Grace charity, which supports women affected by female genital mutilation, Solace Women’s Aid and Advance charities, which both support to women and children suffering abuse, are also among recipients.

The foundation also backs projects in Brazil where Mrs Caring hails from.

The foundation’s funding has supported the opening of a centre offering social, legal, housing and psychological services to survivors of domestic abuse in the South American country.

It has led to more than 27,000 support sessions being delivered to domestic abuse survivors in the country where eight women experience domestic abuse every minute.

The TCFF says its vision is ‘to build a world free from hunger, harm, and hurt, where women and children can thrive’.

It is calling on the public and businesses to join their efforts in supporting survivors and preventing violence against women.

Their spokesperson added: ‘’By raising awareness and vital funds, together we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected.’