A JustGiving page started by a fan of The Archers has raised over £20,000 in three days for domestic violence charity Refuge in response to the Helen Titchener abuse storyline.
A JustGiving page called ‘The Helen Titchener (nee Archer) Rescue Fund’, started by Paul Trueman a fan of the long running BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers, has so far raised £20,457 from 1,505 donations in three days for domestic violence charity Refuge.
On his page, Trueman wrote that The Archers storyline centred on the abusive relationship between Helen and her “controlling husband Rob” inspired him to do something to help “all those women” experiencing domestic violence in real life.
“If over the last year or two you've sworn at the radio, tweeted in outrage, taken the name 'Robert' in vain, or posted your disgust at the worsening situation in Blossom Hill Cottage, then now's your chance to do something constructive about it.
“Time to do something constructive and think of all the women who are genuinely stuck in relationships like this - and much, much worse. So, joking apart, all the money from the Rescue Fund will go to the brilliant Refuge, helping all those women who don't have a mate like Kirsty and their own organic cheese shop waiting for them at the end of it.”
Trueman said his page was also inspired by a piece which appeared in the New Statesman on 2 February about Helen’s abuse in the Archers which the author Helen Walmsley-Johnson compared to her own experiences with a violent partner.
Commenting on the campaign, Sandra Horley, chief executive of the Refuge said: “Refuge is incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated to the ‘Helen Titchener Rescue Fund’. We pay tribute to those who have used this fictional character to help real-life women fleeing domestic violence”.
Horley said the money being raised was invaluable, as the charity is “stretched to breaking point”.
“Anything that raises awareness of our work whilst raising much needed funds is wonderful – and vital. Since 2011, Refuge has experienced a reduction in funding across 80 per cent of its services.
“Finding a refuge space is like finding gold dust, and many women are facing a stark choice: flee to live rough on the streets or remain with their abuser and risk further violence or even worse.”
