West Sussex charity patron Dame Julie Walters asks public to 'stay alert' to domestic violence and urges victims to report cases during lockdown

That was the message from Dame Julie Walters, who appeared on Good Morning Britain this morning (Thursday, May 21) with Julie Budge — the CEO and founder of West Sussex domestic abuse charity My Sisters' House Women's Centre.

Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning actress Julie Walters, who is the patron of the Bognor Regis-based charity, was speaking to host Lorraine Kelly via Skype, from her home in West Sussex, to highlight the help available for victims of domestic abuse.

It comes following a 300 per cent rise in phone calls on the national domestic abuse helpline, as the UK nears 60 days since the start of lockdown.

Lorraine told Good Morning Britain viewers that domestic abuse has 'sadly, soured' during lockdown and has been described as a 'second epidemic running alongside coronavirus'. She said calls to police have risen by around one third, and in London alone, there have been more than 4,000 arrests.

Dame Julie said: "There are lots of helplines. My Sisters' House in West Sussex has its own helpline. Women's Aid, which I'm also a patron of, has helplines.

"You can ring up and there's a code so if there's anyone in the room frightening or intimidating you, they won't know what you're saying or who you are speaking to.

"I do [feel very strongly about it]. A lot of people ask me why and if I've suffered abuse. I'm very fortunate that I haven't. I guess I'm attracted to it because I'm a woman."

Julie Budge told Lorraine that it has been an 'absolute, amazing dream' to have the backing of such a well-loved celebrity.

She said: "When you think it started from my kitchen table in 2014. It was a vision that we had to set up the women's centre.

"We developed and grew, supporting more and more women. Having someone like Dame Julie Walters has just absolutely swollen our social media, support, contacts and community image.

"For me, it was just so amazing to see her in real life when she came to the centre. It was also such a lovely thing for the staff who have worked so hard."

In a message to victims of domestic abuse, Julie stressed that, for many women, this isn't the first time they have been in lockdown.

"Domestic abuse is trapping women all over the place and has done for history," she said. "We've got to think these women are in survival mode.

"It's a case of thinking your voice, feelings and thoughts matter. Your life matters. You need to ask for help as you're not alone. The challenge in these times is how you do that.

"It's also about remembering that it's not just about women who are living with abuse, it's about the women who are in recovery of abuse and how this lockdown has given them flashbacks and panic attacks.

"We all have to be conscious that post lockdown, that this is not going away. All the small charities, like ourselves, are going to be inundated with women that need support for poverty, unemployment and their mental health.

"It's really important that the local community support that. We are part of the community and we must look out for each other."

When asked about her experience in lockdown, Dame Julie Walters said she feels 'totally lucky' to be safe from the harm many women are facing.

She said: "I feel privileged to walk outside freely into the countryside. I'm not held up in flat somewhere with three children, feeling completely vulnerable.

"I'm enjoying being at home with my family, on the farm, and noticing things that I've never noticed before. I make sure I set myself a task every day.

"Life is kind of simple in once sense."

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