Sadly, during Christmas and the new year festivities domestic violence increases.

Women who flee from domestic violence are brave. This Christmas women and children staying in our refuges will be celebrating the season with mixed emotions because when they fled, they left everyone and everything they love. They left family, friends, loved ones, school, work, and sometimes a beloved pet.

The refuge is a warm, safe, and welcoming place everyone calls home.

The staff are working around the clock to make this Christmas a special one for all the right reasons. Its vital we stay open and available because during Christmas and in the new year there is always an increase in cases and referrals.

Today in our refuges, children are writing their letters to Santa, the decorations, stars and the tree are ready to be put up and sparkle. Santa literally zoomed in last year during lockdown. This year he is visiting the refuge with sacks of presents. In previous years children have asked for funny gifts. One little boy asked for a green recycling bin!

You may be wondering why we are asking for financial support rather than presents. The local Rotary clubs, and caring people in the community have been donating toys and gifts we have a whole room packed to the rafters of toys, clothes and luxury beauty items.

During December we need to raise £5,000! This will provide a safe home away from harm, and give the women and children support from our front-line domestic abuse workers and care for children. The staff are beyond committed. We take safeguarding seriously, and every day our staff keep women, boys and girls from further harm while working with the police, lawyers, and other domestic violence organisations to help them to rest, recover and resettle after leaving us.