Kidspot.com.au has announced its latest Kidspot Cares campaign in response to a poll that revealed 84 per cent of its readers have been the victim of family violence or know someone who has.
The campaign focuses on tackling the problem of family violence and trying to both raise awareness and find a solution.
Kidspot.com.au editor Melissa Wilson said: “Sadly, we are seeing a constant flow of stories on this subject from the Kidspot.com.au community, overwhelmingly from women and children who are victims of family violence.
“If we’re going to put an end to the violence happening behind closed doors, we need to open our own to those who need us. Social isolation is one of the biggest barriers to women and children escaping family violence.
“With this latest Kidspot Cares campaign, we’re asking our readers to let people in their lives know that if they need you, you will be there with a #couchandacuppa.
“For too long, people have dismissed the issue of family violence as “none of my business”. We’re making it our business, and we want our readers to pledge that in some small way they’ll make it theirs as well.”
Kidspot.com.au has linked up with BaptistCare for the campaign and will be including donation links in all content for their Break Free program, an early intervention program that aims to work with children who have experienced family violence and break the cycle.
Rob Ellis, general manager of community services at BaptistCare, said: “The children we are caring for see or hear the violence experienced by their mother, and many are direct victims of violence themselves.
“They are growing up in an environment tainted by fear, shattering their trust, eroding their love and disrupting their development, education and mental wellbeing. But as a community, we can’t be overwhelmed by this; we need to be compelled into action.”
The aim of the Kidspot Cares campaign is to send #couchandacuppa far and wide, to remind people closest to us that they can always reach out and find support.
The campaign also includes:
- Multiple anonymous stories from women who have faced family violence.
- An article about the importance of social connection in escaping family violence.
- Influential members of the community sharing their support of the #couchandacuppa campaign.
- A feature on the BaptistCare Break Free program for children of family violence.
- Links in all content pointing to 1800 RESPECT and White Ribbon.
- A podcast with Melissa Wilson and a survivor of family violence who accessed BaptistCare’s domestic violence accommodation and support. Her son was also affected and they discuss how he has now graduated from the BaptistCare Break Free program.
