Christina Statistics - Charities - Refuge Transcript
INTERVIEW WITH TROUBLE TV CREW
How did your contact with Christina Aguilera initially come about?
Domestic violence is an issue which is very close to Christina’s heart.
Her song ‘OK’ and its lyrics refer to her own experience of ‘living in a war called home’.
Why do you think she chose Refuge?
Christina has a charity in the US and she felt Refuge was closest to this charity, with the same aspirations.
Christina’s lyrics, strength and commitment to the issue will give women the strength to reach out for help.
Christina was keen to raise money for Refuge because she wanted people to understand how important it is to provide a safe place for battered women and their children. Christina knows what it’s like to live through terrible times at home and she’s keen to remind people that there is help available – our 24 national freephone – so people don’t suffer in silence. She has given her total support to Refuge which she recognises a life saving charity.
What is the nature of her involvement with the charity?
Celebrity supporter
During Christina’s Stripped UK tour she supported Refuge by giving us five pairs of exclusive tickets at each of her 11 UK concerts – to the highest bidder
Not only did the bidders get top class seats but they also met Christina and had their photo taken with her.
It’s certainly a unique way of raising funds – Refuge is delighted.
It’s also really important that her audience – 1,000s of young people – recognize that domestic violence is a crime. If today’s young people recognise this then there’s hope for the future that the prevalence of domestic violence will lessen.
Has she committed for a specific period of time?
No, our relationship is very flexible and we are just very grateful for her ongoing support and interest in our charity and in the issue.
We have other celebrities who support our cause – Denise Van Outen, Zoe Wanamaker – not to mention Cherie Booth who is one of trustees and a committed support.
How helpful has your allegiance with Christina been?
Brilliant in terms of fundraising, public relations – and good fun too.
Important in getting our message out to a very important audience – we can only get people to change if they’re educated about the unacceptability of the issue. Christina and her youth appeal is helping us to do this in a big way.
Is Christina how you expected her to be?
She’s an even better performer live than she is on the TV or in her videos. She’s very petite and very attractive – and has a passion for her music and for her performance that goes above and beyond many of today’s celebrities.
Is there anything you can tell us about Christina that would surprise us?
For such a petite individual she’s got a big heart and she’s a real people person. She hasn’t let the fame and fortune allow her to forget that major issues effect a lot of people and that aspriational individuals like herself can do a lot to open people’s eyes and bring issues such as domestic violence out of the shadows.
