Melanie Brown received MBE in New Year Honours
Former Spice Girl recognised for her work with Women’s Aid to end domestic abuse
Women’s Aid Patron Melanie Brown has been recognised with an MBE in the New Year Honours List for her unwavering commitment to supporting survivors and raising awareness of domestic abuse.
The activist and former Spice Girl joined Women’s Aid in 2018.
Melanie said:
“This has taken so long to sink in because it means so much to me – more than anyone will ever know. It’s such mixed emotions. To go through such dark times and then to start coming into the light and speaking out for myself and other women has been at times incredibly painful but also unbelievably empowering. I feel I’m accepting this award on behalf of all women who have gone through — or going through — abuse in all its shapes and forms. I am so grateful not just to be a survivor but to have a platform to keep speaking out as Patron of Women’s Aid.”
Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said:
“Melanie has bravely spoken up about her own experiences of abuse, which have informed her work as our Patron. She has dedicated herself tirelessly to working with the charity, spending a huge amount of time meeting survivors, supporting public awareness work and creating opportunities for raising awareness of domestic abuse. Please join us in congratulating Melanie on a truly deserved accolade — one we know will mean so much to her.”
Melanie has given speeches at Women’s Aid events, performed in an incredibly moving classical music video with composer Fabio D’Andrea, which has gone on to create international awareness of domestic abuse, and helped Women’s Aid establish its lifesaving Live Chat service. Melanie also launched an economic abuse report with Women’s Aid at No 10 Downing St by discussing her own experience of financial abuse, hosted a fundraising fashion show with fellow Patron Dame Julie Walters, and assisted Women’s Aid in advising Coronation Street on a landmark coercive control storyline. Notes to editors
An estimated 1.6 million women in England and Wales have experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2020 with young women aged 16-24 years continuing to be the age group at most risk (ONS 2020).
Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children. Since 1974 we have been at the forefront of shaping and coordinating responses to domestic abuse, with survivors at the heart of our work. We are a federation of over 170 organisations which provide just under 300 local lifesaving services to women and children across the country.
If you are worried that your partner, or that of a friend or family member, is controlling and abusive, go to womensaid.org.uk for support and information, including Live Chat, the Survivors’ Forum, The Survivor’s Handbook and the Women’s Aid Directory. Live Chat is open from 10am–6pm seven days a week for confidential expert support from specialised support workers.