Women’s Aid launched sobering children’s book Monster Who Came to Tea’ and on the Government to improve funding for women and children survivors of domestic abuse this International Women’s Day

Today, Women’s Aid has unveiled a bedtime story with a sobering twist. ‘The Monster Who Came to Tea’ begins as a seemingly light-hearted and whimsical tale but soon takes a darker turn, shedding light on the harsh reality of domestic abuse faced by women and children. The story not only raises awareness of this critical issue but also highlights the alarming lack of government funding for child survivors in need of support

In the year ending March 2024, an estimated 1.6 million women and 1.8 million children in England experienced domestic abuse. Yet, shockingly, fewer than one in ten received support through a refuge or community-based service. Women’s Aid’s latest campaign shines a spotlight on this urgent issue, calling attention to the critical gap in support for children surviving abuse. The Monster Who Came to Tea subverts expectations by combining the playful format of a children’s book with a deeply meaningful and unsettling narrative. This approach underscores the chilling gap between the sense of safety that all children deserve and the dark realities that far too children experience on a daily basis.

The book has been brought to life in an animated short film, where a mother reads the tale to her daughter at bedtime. As the pages unfold, a seemingly friendly monster knocks on the family’s door. Rhyming couplets begin to tell a gentle story, but the encounter between the ‘monster’ and the mother soon takes a dark turn, all seen through the eyes of a frightened child. The film concludes with a knock at their real-life door, signalling ‘daddy’s home,’ followed by a powerful narration from actress and domestic abuse advocate Anne-Marie Duff: “This isn’t a story we’d ever choose to read to our children. Yet tragically, for so many, it isn’t fiction.”

Bad Sisters actress and ‘The Monster Who Came to Tea’ end line narrator , Anne-Marie Duff said: “Narrating part of this harrowing story has been a cause incredibly close to my heart, and whilst it’s a privilege to be asked, I wish stories like this weren’t needed. I hope this tale encourages people to take note of what’s still happening within our society, because with increased awareness, we can generate a safer future for both women and children.”

Alongside the book, Women’s Aid has launched an open letter to the Prime Minister demanding action.

In 2021, the charity successfully campaigned for the government to alter the Domestic Abuse Act to reflect that children don’t just witness abuse – they experience it too. Yet 31.4% of organisations providing services for child domestic abuse survivors in the community are operating without government funding – a figure which has doubled from 15.7% the previous year. This means vital services are struggling to meet the needs of women and their children, with a decade of chronic under-funding risking the future of vital domestic abuse services across England.

The letter calls on the government to deliver dedicated funding for specialist services that support both women and children in England, and every signature has the potential to pave a better future for survivors.

As part of the charity’s long-term commitment to ending domestic abuse against women and children, this campaign also sees the launch of lesson plans for schools to help teach children about unhealthy relationships while they are young.

Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive at Women’s Aid added: “Countless women and their children live in fear every day and this must change. We’re calling on the government to take urgent action and provide adequate funding for the lifesaving domestic abuse services that support those fleeing abuse.  By signing our open letter, you can show your solidarity with women and their children fleeing abuse, and spark change this International Women’s Day. ‘The Monster Who Came to Tea’ is not a story anyone would choose to read to their children, but sadly for many, this tale is not fiction. The Government’s pledge to halve violence against women in a decade will require tangible actions and not empty words.

Sign the open letter here today, and download a copy of ‘The Monster Who Came to Tea’ here

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