Refuge: Turn To Us

For many, Father's Day is a celebration of everything that's good about dads. For others it can be a harrowing reminder of a childhood witnessing and experiencing domestic abuse and living in fear. With around 800,000 children experiencing domestic abuse in the UK every year, and around 3,500 children accessing Refuge's services this Sunday, McCann Bristol will publish another reversible poem as a poignant reminder of the huge numbers of children experiencing the issue up and down the country. One of five in a collection of reverse poems, "Remembering My Father" will be published in Sunday’s Observer - Father’s Day - as part of the Turn To Us campaign. It tells two opposing stories depending on which way the poem is read. Top to bottom, it’s an ode to a great dad. But turn it on its head and it reflects the reality of a family under siege from an abusive man. It aims to raise awareness of domestic abuse and provide a reminder that no matter what time of year, no one should suffer in silence. They should turn to Refuge for support. This award-winning, pro-bono campaign remains vitally important in a world where domestic violence remains a terrible stain on our society – insidious and pervasive.