This Women’s History Month, The Co-operative Bank and Refuge are working together to expose the ‘red flags’ that too often go unrecognised in abusive relationships.
New data commissioned by domestic abuse charity Refuge reveals that the scale of domestic abuse is significantly underestimated, with only a quarter of UK adults (26%) aware that 1 in 4 women will experience it in their lifetime.
While nearly 80% of people would report physical abuse, when it comes to the less obvious forms of domestic abuse, such as coercive and controlling behaviour, economic and psychological abuse, recognition is far lower. Just 39%1 of people say they would report these less understood forms of abusive behaviour.
In response to these findings, which underscore the urgent need for greater awareness of the many forms of domestic abuse, Refuge, supported by The Co-operative Bank, unveiled a powerful new campaign, aimed at exposing the hidden dangers women face in abusive relationships.
A huge installation at Outernet London kick-started the campaign, featuring around 100 physical red flags and many more mirrored on digital screens, each displaying a quote from a domestic abuse survivor to show the many forms of domestic abuse that go unrecognised, unseen, unreported and untold.
Now, through this partnership, the red flags of economic abuse will be shown up and down the country through Co-operative Bank branches, including in the Bank’s hometown of Manchester’s city centre branch. Accompanying the flags will be a reminder to Co-operative Bank customers and the wider public that their branches are safe spaces, and that their branch staff are ready to support anyone fleeing abuse.
Abigail Ampofo, Interim CEO at Refuge, said: “Domestic abuse often operates in the shadows, manifesting in subtle, insidious ways that are hard to recognise. As technology and cultural norms evolve, abuse becomes more difficult to spot.
“This campaign seeks to expose these hidden forms, using the voices of survivors to make the red flags impossible to ignore. We want women to know they are not alone, and Refuge is here to support them.
“We’re grateful to everyone who helped bring this campaign to life and are excited to share it with Co-operative Bank customers to mark Women’s History Month”.
Since 2015, Refuge and The Co-operative Bank have worked together to shed light on the issue of economic abuse, influencing the financial services industry from within. In 2015, the partners launched the ‘My money, my life’ campaign, reporting the scale of financial abuse for the very first time.
The bank’s work with Refuge led to the launch of an industry-wide Financial Abuse Code of Practice in 2018, which aims to provide survivors of economic abuse with better and more consistent support from across the banking and financial sector.
Michelle McGlynn, The Co-operative Bank’s Manchester branch manager, said:
“Our branches are dedicated to serving communities, including supporting the most vulnerable in society. Our branch teams have come across survivors who have been made homeless and left destitute by abusive relationships. With the prevalence of domestic and economic abuse climbing, it has never been so important to reassure our customers that we are here to help, that they’re not alone, and that no red flag is too small”.
