[4] Erin Pizzey opened the modern world's first refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence, in Chiswick, west London, in 1971.

It also responds to key policy consultations and debates, ensuring that the voices and needs of abused women and children are reflected in national legislation.

[18] In 2008, Refuge created an advertising campaign designed to raise awareness of the warning signs of domestic violence, highlighting the statistic that two women are killed every week by current or former partners in England and Wales.

[19] In 2009, Refuge conducted a high-profile awareness raising campaign titled Four Ways To Speak Out in partnership with the cosmetics company Avon Products.

In 2013, Refuge launched a campaign calling on the Government to open a public inquiry into the response of the police and other state agencies to victims of domestic violence.

Refuge undertakes research into the effects of domestic violence and issues surrounding service provision for abused women and children.

[23] In 2011, Refuge and the NSPCC, funded by the City Bridge Trust, produced a report on the services for children living with domestic violence in London.

[25] In 2010, Refuge conducted a scoping study into the experience of forced marriage of women from Middle Eastern and North East African communities.

[26] In 2009, Refuge produced a report titled 'Starting in School' as a result of a YouGov survey exploring young women's attitudes and knowledge of the warning signs of domestic violence.

[31] Patrons of the charity include Cherie Booth,[citation needed] Patrick Stewart, Jo Brand, Helena Kennedy and Fiona Bruce.

[36] In September 2014, writing in the New Statesman, Stewart backed Refuge's campaign for a public inquiry into the police and state response to domestic violence.