Want to buy a gift for women and families in a refuge this Christmas?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello [santa]

As lots of you know, each year Refuge sets up a special gift list at John Lewis to provide gifts for women and children in their shelters.

If you fancy buying something off the list, here's the link.

And here's what Refuge have to say about it:

"As you may know, every year Refuge runs a Christmas appeal to collect presents for the women and children in our services, to make Christmas as special as possible for the women and children we support who are fleeing domestic violence. We try to ensure that everyone we're supporting gets around 2-3 gifts."

"The majority of women often flee their abusive partner in the middle of the night, too afraid to risk collecting their belongings. Many women arrive with little more than the clothes they and their children are wearing."

Here's the link again

Thanks all

I would rather donate to something like shelter

If you don't reach the gift list via the Refuge website though, you don't see that small print. If you just go through the JL gift list, you are given the option of buying vouchers or choosing a gift. I'm not complaining, I just wish organisations would be upfront.

People are more likely to give when they can envisage the difference they make, which is why "£10 buys a vaccination for xyz" strategies work. If people have bypassed the 'buy vouchers' section because they particularly liked the idea of buying a cuddly toy, for example, it seems a bit off that their money will be converted into vouchers anyway.

The cause seems to be about helping JL more than anyone!

I don't see how much more open Refuge can be about it? The link above is quite transparent about how the gift list works and why they do it that way.

And yes, JL do get something out of it - they are seen to support a very good cause which raises their profile. That'll be one of the reasons why they do it.

Yes, Refuge is explicit about it, but if you don't go to the JL list via the Refuge website, you don't see that. At John Lewis, you are presented with a choice of 'buy voucher' or 'pick a gift'.

I would still have contributed, but I would have saved a bit of time by just picking the 'buy vouchers' option, rather than going through the pages of gifts and selecting something.

I think that's a fair point, maybe JL should make it clearer on the website.

Tbh, it's a wonderful cause to be supporting but even I won't be buying gifts from JL for my family as it's too expensive. I think the money would go a lot further if from another retailer. Such a shame. But does remind me of doing a food bank donation.

Given the amount of confusion it has caused just on this thread, you'd think they'd make it clearer.
I just donated directly to local WA and will drop.of some stuff for the refuge.

But tbh I think refuge would be better making their own gift page. Tick.a box saying you want to donate e.g. kids toy, toiletries etc. And then oay the amount and refuge buy the stuff (but from somewhere better value)

JL do get something out of it - they are seen to support a very good cause which raises their profile. That'll be one of the reasons why they do it.

It raises their turnover and their profits!!!!

am I missing something?I can't see anything that says JL are supporting the charity?

The items on the list are a bit mad - a baby change bag for £75? A toiletry set for £33? Agree with other posters that a different retailer would make more sense.

It also looks like only one present has been bought from the list so far...

Brioche - you would ask Refuge or JL, I don't know the details of the set up.

I can't particularly get worked up about a shop doing something that might increase its profits. That's what they do.

*need to ask

Ditto what's already been said - vastly overpriced stuff from JL, not the best use of anyone's money. Which in the circs seems a little obscene especially as the link connects to a gift list!

It's there whole corporate social responsiblity thing tick box. Sure they mean well, but there are much better ways of doing this. And I also would like to know exactly how much JL is contributing for this or are they just the provider of overpriced donations??

uhggh! their not there

For all those planning to donate things to actual refuges please think about the comments by Refuge below.

*Unfortunately due to the limited resources at Refuge we are unable to accept large volumes of donated Christmas presents. We want to ensure that every woman and child receives a Christmas gift and our gift list has been designed specifically for this, while also minimising the resources needed.
We would encourage all supporters who wish to support women and children escaping domestic violence this Christmas to use our gift listt, buy a Refuge parcell or donate to our Christmas appeall.
This approach has clearly worked well for Refuge in the past so donate money if you don't like the gift list but at least listen to the charity and what it wants.

Yes, some of the items are expensive, but most aren't. The majority of the gifts are £25 or less, with plenty less than a tenner.

If you think it's a waste of money to use the gift list, but still want to help, there are other options (again, from the Refuge web page).

fair enough. think will buy a couple of the Refuge parcels direct from them, seem much better value fo money. just can't use that obsene gift list thing from JL...

littlebear sorry should have been clearer. I am not planning on donating things to Refuge but to the local WA who have a list of things that they accept as donations on their website.

So basically you give £x cash (which could be spent at any shop in the country) to JL who convert it to their giftvouchers which can only be spent in their shop .This has to be the worst thought out charity appeal ever. It brings both the charity and John Lewis into disrepute

For those concerned about travel time, John Lewis vouchers are usually redeemable at Waitrose as well (which will also provide a pick-up point for online department store purchases).

This thread makes me think I should donate something to somewhere. Now just to decide what and where. If I fail to do/decide anything specific by the end of the day, I'm coming back to buy a present here as it looks very easy to do and a good cause.

It is definitely a good cause EasterRobin. Absolutely no debate about that.

Some of the responses here are just bizarre. Bringing Refuge and JL into disrepute? WTAF?

Refuge want to buy some lovely, quality PRESENTS for their families for Christmas. (This campaign is not for essentials, 4 pairs of slippers for £12 type thing). So they go for one of the few companies that run a very reliable and easy--to-use gift list: JL. You do realise that Wilkos and Tesco etc don't run gift lists, don't you? JL's is free to set up, very simple to administer and they deliver everywhere you will find a refuge HQ (no needing to go in store, ha).

JL are just providing their gift list service as requested by the charity. They may or may not be providing additional funds (we have no info) but I fail to understand why people are up in arms about them making money when it is OK if Wilkos/Tesco do. JL do an awful lot for lots of charities, fwiw, it's not bloody Harrods.

If you want to pay for something more practical, there are numerous other ways to donate, as noted upthread.

They are gifts and that needs to be remembered, it shouldn't be a case of buying cheap tat just because it's for charity.

It's just when you look over the gift list, I'm thinking well I could buy a Moses basket in the sale fromMothercare or Babies are us and 3 nice gift sets from Boots in their 3 for 2, for the price of the Moses basket.