Recently, I undertook a period of work experience at domestic violence charity, Refuge. I had been looking to expand on my skills and thought that it would be a great place to gain experience, confidence and knowledge. Although I learnt many things beneficial to my future prospects, it was the vital role Refuge plays that really resonated with me.

I knew basic facts about domestic violence through the media, for instance, that one in four women will experience it at some point in their lives and that two women each week are victims of domestic homicide. But, I found that domestic violence charities do not often get the coverage they deserve, despite these harrowing facts.

Why is this the case? Why does our society, still, sweep it under the rug? Why do police forces not take victims seriously, or understand that they may be dropping the charges because they are in fear? Where is the funding? These are questions I continually asked myself during my time with Refuge, but I realised I could not truly answer them. I still can’t.

As part of the Refuge team, I learnt that, often, being able to contact a domestic violence charity could mean the difference between life and death. Yet, the most standout fact was that, ultimately, each refuge’s biggest success each year is simply that they remained open. This is endearing but heartbreaking, as it is becoming increasingly evident that there is not enough funding to support vital services.

As a young woman, I am conscious of the impact society has on myself, and others like me. Despite the progressions in equality and feminism, women and girls still find themselves having to constantly avoid unwanted advances or get trapped in violent relationships. What also became apparent is that emotional abuse is just as prevalent and severe as physical abuse, yet is often not discussed openly.

One of my tasks involved imputing case studies into a master spreadsheet. While this may seem like an arduous task to some, it was incredibly difficult at times. Having to read through countless stories of women who suffered for so long, experiencing often-horrific abuse, some of whom were even killed or committed suicide as a result, really opened my eyes to the common experiences victims have. For instance, many felt failed by the police or CPS (Crown Prosecution Service); many abusers did not receive convictions; women were often physically and mentally broken down and believed it was their fault; and emotional, verbal and financial abuse came alongside physical and sexual abuse. Most significantly, many of these case studies had no idea that there was somewhere they could go to gain support. This is one of the crucial issues.

For whatever reason, people do not deal with violence towards women accurately. We need only to look to the recent allegations Mel B made of her ex-husband following ten years of abuse, or Amber Heard’s divorce of Johnny Depp on the grounds of violence. Instead of the media discussing these with fairness, including the domestic violence helpline to raise awareness, many articles blamed the women, said they lied or should have been able to stop it as they are 'feisty'. Even a case study, who is not famous, received hateful comments following an article about her experiences. Time and again, people will find a way to blame the victim, and progress is slow on this front. One need only look at the fact that marital rape was only criminalised as recently as 1991! Prior to that, being married was considered consent regardless. Ultimately we have a long way to go, but things are beginning to change.

Television shows are beginning to address violence against women in a more accurate capacity. Broadchurch and Big Little Lies are two prime examples of this, demonstrating the reality of a rape victim without romanticising them, or in the case of Big Little Lies, exploring the Charm Syndrome Man (as defined by Sandra Horley). Due to the significance of television and film in contemporary society, it is crucial for shows like those to portray violent partners in a manner that doesn't glorify them. The more this occurs, the more people will acknowledge it is unacceptable and will report it more often, with victims recognising that it can be stopped and they can escape.

Personally, I believe any piece on domestic violence, or violence against women, should include some reference to support networks. Whether it be website links, helpline numbers or local police, it should penetrate society and resonate in people’s minds so that victims or their loved ones are aware of the support available. If more people knew this life-saving information, perhaps our society could begin to decrease the fatalities and abhorrent crimes. Only then, will attitudes change, and then perhaps violence towards women will stop.

Ultimately, my time with Refuge opened my eyes to the importance of charities like them, the impact they have made to the lives of countless women and their children for over 45 years. Hopefully, the proposed government funding and Acts of Parliament intended to support domestic violence refuges and services will lead to the continuation of the hard and vital work these charities do for women and children.