Sir Mohamed Mansour has become the latest generous donor to give to The Independent’s campaign to build safe refuges for women and children fleeing domestic abuse.
The chairman of Man Capital and a former Tory treasurer said he was “proud” to support this newspaper’s Brick by Brick appeal and added that “no women or children should feel unsafe in their homes”.
The Independent has partnered with leading domestic abuse charity Refuge to raise money to create two secure havens for domestic abuse survivors, including women, their children and any pets. Each £15 donation buys a brick in the safe homes.
More than £500,000 has flooded in so far, surpassing the initial £300,000 target thanks to generous donations from readers – including the Queen, prime minister Keir Starmer and chief executive of NHS England Amanda Pritchard.
The campaign began with the aim of creating one safe home, which is already being built, but following the generosity of all who have donated, plans are now underway for a second.
Be a brick, buy a brick and donate here or text BRICK to 70560 to donate £15
As he became the latest to back the appeal, Sir Mohamed – a philanthropist who has donated millions to developing football academies in Ghana, Egypt and Denmark – said: “No women or children should feel unsafe in their homes.
“For that reason alone, I am proud to support and want to congratulate The Independent for their Brick by Brick campaign, which promises to help so many women and children escape from domestic abuse and rebuild their lives. To build a permanent sanctuary with a secure house is a great legacy."
The businessman’s support comes after Camilla, a longtime supporter of women escaping abusive partners, personally backed the Brick by Brick appeal.
An adviser to the monarch said she would “take a keen interest as the plans evolve” and described such safe spaces as “vital in providing a lifeline to those at their lowest ebb”.
Sir Keir also gave his personal backing to the campaign, vowing that he and his cabinet would donate. “I don’t only support the campaign, but I want the campaign to go on and get bigger,” he said in an interview with The Independent.
Giving her support to the appeal, Ms Pritchard highlighted the prevalence of domestic abuse faced by health staff in the UK as she condemned the “abhorrent behaviour across society”.
Thousands of women across the UK face danger in their own homes, but one woman is turned away every two hours from a refuge because of a lack of space or capacity.
With the campaign aiming to help change this, Dame Joanna Lumley appealed to the nation to “be a brick and buy a brick” as she lent her backing too.
Among the celebrities who have also supported the campaign are Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Patrick Stewart, Cherie Blair, Olivia Colman, David Morrissey and Dermot O’Leary.
Please donate now to the Brick by Brick campaign, launched by The Independent and charity Refuge, to help raise £300,000, or more, to build safe spaces for women where they can escape domestic abuse, rebuild their lives and make a new future. Text BRICK to 70560 to donate £15.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse, you can contact Refuge’s national domestic abuse helpline for free, confidential support at 0808 2000 247.
