Hollywood actor and activist Michael Sheen, has backed a campaign started on Change.org asking the British government to address domestic abuse, children’s rights, and the need for Family Court reform in the UK. The petition has gathered over 117,000 signatures.

Michael Sheen, who has an OBE for his services to drama, is also a passionate activist who writes and speaks about social and cultural change. Sheen tweeted his support for the Change campaign on 22nd August, and has also made the campaign’s profile picture his Twitter avatar.

Researching Reform highlighted the petition, started by Rachel Williams and Teresa Whittaker, at the beginning of August, when their campaign led to a debate in the House of Commons in which Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, Jess Phillips, called on the government to investigate child welfare body CAFCASS over its failings to protect vulnerable children and parents inside the Family Court. Rachel Williams endured 18 years of domestic abuse, and was shot and beaten during the ordeal. Williams then lost her 16 year old son, who committed suicide shortly after the experience. She now works as an ambassador for several organisations offering support for women who have suffered domestic abuse, and has  written a book about her life. Rachel tweets about her experiences under the handle @Dontlookback198. 

You can take part in the campaign by adding the campaign’s profile picture to any of your social media accounts or websites and using the hashtag #FamilyCourtListenToUs. (Click on the image below to download it)