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Original poster

Refuge are at serious risk of closing down. HQ is there anything we can do to help them?

28 replies

Memoo · 08/03/2012 21:04

The CEO of Refuge has said in The Guardian that they are at serious risk of having to shut their doors permently because of cuts to funding. They are already turning women away and now they might close as early as the summer She said she is the most worried she has been in 30 years!!

We can't allow this to happen. What the hell will happen to abused women and children!?

Could we as a site do something to help? Or at least could you give us some ideas hq??

OP posts:
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LineRunner · 14/03/2012 20:30

Thank you Kate MNHQ. The best thing Refuge can do is be clear on what help they need, and the timings.

Also could they put someone forward who understands the MN 'constituency'? (That NSPCC Q&A was an embarrassment.)

Mind you, Refuge have already won us all over anyway - they just need to tell us what they want us to do. Lobbying; campaigning; targeting funds; targeting influence; are all possible, if pithily argued and well focused.

Thank you. Smile

NarkedPuffin · 14/03/2012 18:13

Nick Hurd

NarkedPuffin · 14/03/2012 18:08

Excellent.

I'm Shock by this. I knew it was bad but didn't realise it could hit a critical point so soon.

I tried to ask the cockweasel minister (Mr Big Society) about funding when he came on for his little webchat. He ignored me. And I didn't call him a cockwesel or anything.

MNHQ
KateMumsnet · 14/03/2012 16:00

Hello

Just to let you know that we've been in touch with Refuge, who're going to have a think about best timings and get back to us.

Thanks again for letting us know about this.

MNHQ x

FrothyDragon · 13/03/2012 14:37

Thank you, Justine! :) Please keep us posted.

Tooblunt2012 · 13/03/2012 13:24

That would be great.

LineRunner · 13/03/2012 12:11

Justine, thanks for that. Much appreciated.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 13/03/2012 11:59

Hi thanks for this suggestion and apologies for the delayed response - bit snowed under.
We will definitely ask Refuge if they'd like to come on for a webchat to talk about their predicament.

Mouseface · 12/03/2012 12:04

Have you seen the Independent today?

Here

Tooblunt2012 · 11/03/2012 19:50

I think the Q&A is a great idea.

EduStudent · 11/03/2012 01:49

A Q&A would be good, if there's any way of that being setup.

LineRunner · 10/03/2012 18:20

I think MNHQ are very busy at the moment; but when you think what they are busy with (for example, cleaning up after the trouble orchestrated by misogynists on the FWR board), then I gues you could argue that it's even more important for MN to provide its users with an informed and constructive means of supporting Refuge.

I do admire MN and I think it is an effective platform for many women to debate these matters and to be heard.

Original poster
Memoo · 10/03/2012 13:19

Very disappointed that there is still no comment from HQ :(

OP posts:
SpringHeeledJack · 09/03/2012 23:13

signed

and yes, agree with OP. In fact when I heard this on the news tother day, thought "now THAT'S one for mumsnet"

LineRunner · 09/03/2012 23:07

Happy to sign the petition, anyway. Thanks.

LineRunner · 09/03/2012 17:44

I can see that MN might prefer to have links to petitions or campaigns embedded within a thread that clearly interests posters, rather than having a petition link being the whole point of an OP.

That being said, with MN launching the 'We Believe You' campaign, it would be a fantastic MNHQ response to do something special for Refuge which has done so much for so many women and children at times of crisis, often when no-one else believed the extent of the abuse from which they were escaping.

That's why I think a Q&A or web chat with the CEO would be productive.

FrothyDragon · 09/03/2012 17:00

Memoo, I was too, but it was something to do with site rules and people not appreciating petitions for every cause that came up...

Original poster
Memoo · 09/03/2012 16:57

Btw I'll post it on fb and twitter.

OP posts:
Original poster
Memoo · 09/03/2012 16:57

I'm stunned that it was deleted.

OP posts:
FrothyDragon · 09/03/2012 16:46

LineRunner, StarsAndBoulevards posted it in AIBU, but it got deleted... Hmm

It's also currently on the thread about Refuge in Feminism and Women's Rights. If anyone would be willing to post it on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, ANYWHERE, it'd be much appreciated.

Realises a name change is now in order

LineRunner · 09/03/2012 16:24

Frothy, have you posted your petition link elsewhere on MN?

LineRunner · 09/03/2012 16:21

I think a good reason to do a Q&A or web chat is so that the CEO and MNetters can determine where exactly is the correct and appropriate place for (timely) lobbying and donations.

FrothyDragon · 09/03/2012 16:20

At the moment, I'm making as much as a noise as possible... (I think if my FB friends hear the words "petition" or "sign" again, they'll scream... Grin

Will be doing a blog post tomorrow, and asking people on Tumblr to sign the petition. Also considering trying to organise a fundraising event. Not willing to sit by and see this happen.

Original poster
Memoo · 09/03/2012 16:15

Thanks for that frothy.

If we could get the CEO on to do a Q&A that would just be amazing.

We need lots of people to get behind this. The more noise we make the better.

OP posts:
legoballoon · 09/03/2012 16:06

Have signed the petition frothy - and bumping for you.
Great cause, something MN should take up.

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