The Willows - Dawn's Story

Rural Domestic Abuse Awareness Training Film

Rural domestic abuse is different. The sense of isolation, of being alone without support services or the means to travel to a place of safety.

“The Willows” is about Dawn. The film starts with stunning drone footage of Dawn and her husband Peter driving their daughter to school along a remote Derbyshire lane. Peter stays in the car whilst Dawn drops their daughter at the school gate. It is easy to identify with Dawn’s discomfort, being delayed by teachers and friends wanting to draw her into conversation. Peter makes it clear that he is not happy when she returns to the car.

As the story unfolds we get a better understanding of how trapped she feels, how unhappy she is and of the wider family dynamic. Rural life can be hard, but it shouldn’t be this hard.

View the Trailer here. 

The film is the basis of our Rural Domestic Abuse Awareness Training and recruitment of community Champions. If you have any questions about the work of The Willow Project, please contact Emily Brailsford.

With thanks to Derbyshire Police & Crime Commissioner for support and funding to enable us to commission it and to Rural Media for producing such an excellent film.

If you would like to watch the 20-minute film you will need to complete a short form first and you will then be re-directed to the film.

Watch Film