A woman from York who survived horrendous domestic violence and set up an ethical fashion business has won a Pride of Britain Award.
Rebecca Beattie is to be honoured with the Prince’s Trust Young Achiever Award at this year’s Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards – to be broadcast on ITV on 1 November.
Rebecca’s extraordinary courage in creating something positive from her awful ordeal is inspirational.
Rebecca was with her ex-partner, who physically abused her, for five years. She struggled to provide the basics for herself and her son because of her partner’s economic abuse.
When Rebecca left the relationship at the age of 24, her ex-partner and father to her child attacked her so badly that she needed facial reconstruction surgery. He was later jailed.
Helping others
After Rebecca left hospital, she had to rebuild her life from scratch so in 2018, she joined the Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme, which helps young people turn big ideas into business reality.
She set up an ethical clothing brand Always B.U, dedicated to raising awareness of domestic violence.
For every product sold at Always B. U, 5% of each sale is donated to IDAS, the York based charity supporting anyone experiencing or affected by domestic violence and sexual violence.
The brand is designed to empower victims and survivors of violence and give them a voice, as well as to change attitudes about domestic violence.
She said the award had come as a total surprise. Rebecca, 32, went to a Prince’s Trust event at Clarence House and was presented to Prince Charles.
“I was very shocked, it was very surreal,” she told the Yorkshire Post. He started speaking about the work I do for the trust and how grateful he was.
“Then he started talking about my brand and the work I do with my brand.”
Later in the conversation, the Prince told her she had won the award.
“I was just extremely overwhelmed and blown away and genuinely for once lost for words,” she said.
More than 50 of our biggest stars will come together for this year’s Pride of Britain Awards – including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, David Beckham, Dame Helen Mirren, Ant & Dec, Rita Ora, Captain Sir Tom Moore and Marcus Rashford – all honouring this year’s inspirational winners.
The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards will be broadcast on ITV on 1st November at 9pm.