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.
