Harrogate domestic abuse charity encouraging people to love themselves first this Valentine's
New Beginnings want people to appreciate self-love first and not rely on being in a relationship to feel happy.
Last updated 14th Feb 2022
A Harrogate domestic abuse charity is encouraging people to love themselves first this Valentine's Day.
New Beginnings Peer Support have launched the #loveYOUfirst campaign to re-event the most romantic day of the year, saying self love is the most important type of love a person can have.
They want people to appreciate self-love first and not rely on being in a relationship to feel happy.
Founder and survivor Lindsay Oliver, said:
"Valentine's can be a very difficult time for someone who is in an abusive relationship. It can be a time where you are lavished with gifts and you're made to feel wonderful but subconsciously, in the back of your head, you know you're going to pay for it later down the line. It's all a show. Or on the other hand, you can be made to feel worthless and be told by a perpetrator that you're nothing and they'll make the day all about them.
"We all know Valentine's Day as this societal thing where you should be happy in a relationship, and actually to really have healthy relationships you need to love yourself first. This idea that you should be with another, that families should have two parents and in order to be happy their should be someone else to be happy, when actually relationships should be seen as a bonus. Self love is much more important than partnership."
Families supported by New Beginnings Peer Support came up with the idea to reinvent Valentine's Day to create the #loveYOUfirst campaign.
The campaign and product have been co-produced by the charity's staff, peer volunteers and clients with support from Northern Signs Ripon, Cone Exchange in Harrogate, and Knaresborough Community Centre.
From later today, for a £2 minimum cash donation you can pick one up at Community House, East Parade, Harrogate 9am-4.30pm Mon-Thursdays or you can direct message the charity.
A minimum of £1 of every donation made will go towards funding New Beginnings to support their clients. It includes covering costs of providing their group support sessions, materials for their whole-family mindful activity packs and providing vital training for their staff and volunteers.