Refuge Surfaces

During the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, calls and contacts to Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline rocketed by 66%, with visits to its website rising ten-fold. 

Our goal was to draw attention to the shocking rise in violence against women during lockdown.

We partnered with the charity to create a short film starring Lex Shrapnel and award-winning actor Maxine Peake. The 10-minute story, Surfaces, was written by our Group Creative Director, Jon Elsom, and directed by Steve Reeves. It features characters Alix and Richard, a married couple whose whirlwind romance quickly descended into physical and mental abuse.

Surfaces sent a clear message of hope to survivors. Whether they have already fled their perpetrator, or are still living in constant fear, the film demonstrated that there is a life after abuse, that support is available – and that they are not alone.

Our campaign saw a 70% increase in calls to the helpline during the campaign period. The UK Government adopted the film for educational purposes and we generated 11.1 million total impressions.