Promoting Financial Freedom

For the third Shero challenge, the three Refuge Sheroes will be teaming up with Barclays. Throughout the month of March we will be asking the public to donate their change into a container, which will be kept in the Barclays cashier hall. On 25th March the Sheroes will spend the day at Barclays counting the pennies, coins and cash.

Each monthly challenge is connected to an area of domestic abuse that can affect numerous people in the Island. The message for this month’s challenge relates to financial abuse and promotes financial freedom. Controlling a person financially can be very deceptive to the outside world. Some people can seem well off, having all the latest gadgets or a nice car, yet they do not own a bank account, are forbidden to have a job or have to account for every penny they spend.

Lorna Kearney, manager, of the Refuge said: “Financial abuse can leave women feeling like they are unable to leave the relationship due to financial insecurity. I have met women who have been forced to take out loans and have been left with no way to pay the money back. Others had no access to any money despite looking to the outside world as if they are wealthy. This left them feeling desperate and helpless but once they took positive action and contacted the Refuge and with the help of other agencies such as CAB and Legal Aid, they have found a way forward. We want women to know that if they are being controlled, we can help them.”

Like psychological or emotional abuse, financial control can be difficult to prove, as it leaves no physical marks but leaves a woman feeling vulnerable or ashamed to talk about it. If a partner or family member is preventing someone from having independence financially, then it can be considered to be financial abuse. The other end of the scale is being trapped by the person and building up a lot of debt in your name. Some people may not realise they are a victim of financial abuse straight away, so we want people to know that Refuge are there to talk about their situation, and we encourage people to reach out to us and call for help.

Barclays will be supporting this challenge throughout March and all members of staff are being Refuge Sheroes and Heroes by wearing purple on the 25th of the month. Jenny Clayton from Barclays said: “We have a close relationship with the Jersey Women’s Refuge and are delighted to be supporting this Shero challenge”.

We are asking the public to donate via the donation box in Barcays bank throughout March. The three Sheroes will be counting the money on 25th March to symbolise the financial struggle that some women may face.

Throughout the twelve Shero challenges that are taking place each month, on our celebratory 25th anniversary year, we are trying to raise £25,000. Those wishing to show their support and sponsor the Shero Challenge can make an online donation at www.justgiving/sherochallenge or send a cheque to P.O. Box 708 St Helier JE4 0PW.

More information about the Refuge can be found on the website www.jerseywomensrefuge.org. If you would like to contact someone at Jersey Women’s Refuge regarding the Refuge Shero Challenge please email lorna@jerseywomensrefuge.org .

Find us on Facebook: /womensrefuge to keep up with our events and the latest photos of our challenges.

Tags: Barclays, Jersey Women's refuge, Refuge Sheroes, Shero challenge

Category: Charity, Community