Dame Julie Walters to join founder of West Sussex charity on TV to highlight help for victims of domestic abuse

My Sisters' House celebrates its fifth anniversary with Dame Julie Walters officially opening the new centre building in 2019. Picture: Sarah Standing

The CEO of a West Sussex charity is due to appear on TV with Dame Julie Walters this week to highlight the help available for victims of domestic abuse during lockdown.

With families and couples across the country confined to their homes, there have been concerns over an increase in domestic abuse.

According to Julie Budge, there has been a 300 per cent rise in phone calls on the national domestic abuse helpline.

To raise awareness of the issue, the CEO and founder of My Sisters’ House in Bognor Regis is due to appear via Skype on Good Morning Britain Live with Lorraine Kelly between 9 and 10am on Thursday morning, joined by the charity’s patron, Julie Walters.

My Sisters’ House Women’s Centre works across the coastal area of West Sussex, providing a range of support needs to women from all backgrounds.

Julie Budge said: “We are seeing a rise as more women get familiar with our helpline and live chat, out of hours.

“We offer 8 to 10pm, [which is] the only provision of such in the county and daytime 10am to 1pm, as well as Saturdays. For many women being in lockdown is nothing new, in the sense they have been restricted before.