Minister and celebrity campaigner visit Advance to talk to survivors of economic abuse

July 13, 2023

Advance’s West London Women’s Centre has hosted a visit from Treasury Minister, Victoria Atkins, and Love Island contestant and domestic abuse survivor, Malin Andersson, to meet survivors of economic abuse and launch a new government initiative.

UK businesses and charities will be able to access a free interactive guide to help their staff spot and tackle economic abuse when speaking to customers over the phone or in-person.

Niki, Scordi, Advance’s CEO, said:

“Understanding the methods of domestic abusers and their continuous attempts to intimidate and control survivors long after they leave the abusive home is vital. This includes control through economic and financial means, such as child support, school fees, bank accounts, mortgages, loans and access to employment. Supporting survivors with specialist Domestic Abuse Advocates in the community is essential to help change, and sometimes save, the lives of those devasted by domestic and economic abuse.”

Treasury Minister, Victoria Atkins, said:

“The government passed the landmark Domestic Abuse Act and I’m determined to build on that commitment to help victims. Economic and financial abuse can be less understood than other forms of domestic abuse, which is why it is vital organisations share best practice with one another whenever they can.”

Media coverage

ITV News
https://www.itv.com/news/2023-07-12/new-initiative-to-tackle-economic-abuse

Government News
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-businesses-to-get-free-government-tool-to-tackle-economic-abuse

The Daily Mail newspaper
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12290041/Love-Island-star-backs-plan-HMRC-target-domestic-financial-abuse.html?ito=amp_twitter_share-top

The Daily Mail video news
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-2977313/Video-Atkins-announces-HMRC-help-support-victims-economic-abuse.html

Women’s Health magazine
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/health/a44502387/economic-abuse-tool/

Bauer media streamed across its radio channels
Interviews with Treasury Minister Victoria Atkins, Niki Scordi and Advance service users about financial abuse. Bauer radio stations broadcast coverage recorded at the Advance visit in hourly news bulletins on 12/07/23.

HMT Digital
Interviews with Treasury Minister Victoria Atkins, Niki Scordi and Advance service users about financial abuse. They posted photos and a video of the visit to Advance on HM Treasury’s Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Greatest Hits Radio
This radio station tweeted a video filmed at Advance’s West London Women’s Centre on 12/07/23 about the Minister’s visit to meet economic abuse survivors.

Glamour magazine
Former Love Island contestant and domestic abuse survivor, Malin Andersson, is writing an article on the announcement and her visit Advance Women’s Centre to meet survivors of economic abuse.

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For all press enquiries, please contact:

E: press@advancecharity.org.uk
T: 07939 061 850

About Advance

Advance’s vision is a world in which women and children lead safe, equal, violence-free lives so that they can flourish and actively contribute to society. The charity works with women who experience domestic abuse to be safe and take control of their lives, and women who have committed crime or are at risk of offending to break the cycle.
As well as providing direct support, Advance works with statutory services, government agencies and other women’s charities to ensure a holistic approach to the issues these women face.
Women must be referred to Advance, via statutory services or the charity’s self-referral scheme. For more information about who Advance is able to support, please visit Get Help
For facts and statistics about domestic abuse and women in the criminal justice system, as well as Advance’s work, please visit Our Impact

A safe, just and equal world for women