Christmas can be one of the most stressful experiences for families; the preparation, the planning, as well as worrying about how to finance everything. This is the same for families with lived experience of domestic abuse.

In most cases that we see within GEWA, there is always an element of financial abuse perpetrated by the abuser, leaving women powerless and in dire financial situations. This, alongside other external factors such as the current cost of crisis, deprivation, homelessness, and addiction can all contribute to the added stress that Christmas can bring.

We are grateful that every year our supporters generously donate funds and gifts for the children and young people we support in our service. However, this year we are looking to raise funds to provide our women a special gift to open on Christmas Day.

We recognise that some of our women who are on their own, with or without children, do not always receive something to open on Christmas Day. We want to spread some Christmas magic to our incredibly brave and strong women and let them know that they are not on their own, that they are cared for and that they deserve happiness on this day too.