As Valentine’s Day approaches, Oasis Domestic Abuse Service is calling on the Kent community to remember that love should always feel safe, kind and respectful.
The charity has launched a new awareness campaign – “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” – encouraging people to reflect on healthy relationships and show their support for those affected by domestic abuse.
Local influencers, community leaders, and well-known faces will be wearing a specially designed Love Shouldn’t Hurt T-shirt in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day.
Created in partnership with Thanet artist Lisa Illustrations (pictured), the tee is available to buy on special offer for £14 at the Oasis charity shop on Northdown Road in Cliftonville – a figure that represents the cost of two calls to the Oasis helpline. Funds raised through the campaign will help Oasis grow its helpline, ensuring that no call for help goes unanswered.
Valentine’s Day is often associated with gifts and romance, but for many people it can also be a painful reminder of control, fear or isolation. One of Oasis’ clients recalls how her abusive ex-husband would get her gifts on Valentine’s Day, “because he demonstrated his love I tended to overlook the bigger concerns and red flags that my body and mind were instinctively trying to protect me from,” she said.
Domestic abuse remains a critical issue across Kent and the UK.
- More than 15,000 children in Kent and Medway are growing up in homes where abuse is part of daily life.
- Nationally, 1 in 5 adults will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and demand for services continues to grow.
- Every two weeks, three women in the UK are killed by a man who was meant to love and protect them. In that same time, even more women take their own lives, feeling there’s no other escape.
In many cases, survivors say emotional and psychological abuse can be just as damaging as physical violence.
“Every T-shirt worn and every post shared sends a message,” says Juliette Lyons from Oasis. “It’s a simple message, but a powerful one: love shouldn’t hurt. When communities come together to show support, we help break the silence and that has the power to encourage people who are being harmed by those who are supposed to love them, to find the courage to reach out.”
You can get involved by purchasing a T-shirt, sharing a post on social media using the hashtag #LoveShouldntHurt, and tagging @oasisdomesticabuseservice.
Founded 31 years ago in Margate, Oasis Domestic Abuse Service supports adults and children across East Kent who have experienced domestic abuse. The charity provides refuge accommodation, crisis support, and outreach services to help rebuild lives and promote safety.
Website: oasisdaservice.org
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https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/756036