Introducing… the Mumsnet Christmas Appeal for Refuge and Women’s Aid

[JustineMumsnet]

Hello, hello

As some of you will know, we’re not going to run the Mumsnet Secret Santa this year. It had a brilliant run over more than ten years, with many MNers nominating recipients, and sending and receiving gifts. We know from reading the ‘thank you’ threads over the years that it’s brightened up many an MNer’s festive season. But over the last couple of years it seems to have provoked quite a lot of angst and if there’s one thing none of us needs over Christmas it’s more stress.

To replace it, this year we’re going to promote a couple of very worthy causes close to many of your hearts: Refuge and Women’s Aid, both of which provide life-saving support for women in abusive relationships and their children.

‘Donate’ links will be appearing around the site, and all you have to do is hit on one (or both) of them to be taken directly to the JustGiving page for that charity, where you can make your donation. We at MNHQ will be match funding donations made to both up to a total of £10,000.

We know this is an expensive time of year, but anything at all that you can spare, however small, would be fab - collectively we can make a big difference. This page includes more information from Refuge and Women’s Aid about what how your money will be spent.

We’ll keep you updated with running totals, and there will be some Guest Posts on our Bloggers’ Network to provide a bit more background: we’ll put the links to those up here when they’re published.

Thanks for reading and we look forward to helping these two brilliant organisations give more families a Christmas to remember.

And, of course, a very merry Christmas to you all!

Thanks [santa]

click here to donate to Refuge

click here to donate to Women’s Aid

[dementedma]

We had a collection in work last year for women in refuges. The refuge people said that people gave generously for the children in refuges, but the women were often overlooked. Even if they got some money, they would spend it on the children. So we collected toiletries, jewellery, scarves, gloves, socks, books, make up etc for the mothers.The gifts were very much appreciated.

[CocoaX]

The equivalent charity in Scotland is Scottish Women's Aid. They have local branches as well. Not sure about Refuge, but it would be great if MNHQ could make sure Scottish, Irish and Welsh branches are included.

[RosaRosaRose]

dementedma you are so right. I understand that things change, but I was so excited and so happy and so grateful to be nominated. It was wonderful and I was so glad and I cannot express, I really can't, how much it meant to me to be nominated and to get that parcel.

[cozietoesie]

I'm glad you're safe now, anyway, Rosa.

[RosaRosaRose]

cozietoesie thanks. Warm, with a roof over my head, working and able to pay for that. Without the help from my refuge, I could never have got there. So grateful.

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

Does anyone know if WA are doing the Christmas Boxes they did last year?

[TwoWeeksInCyprus]

Donated

[cozietoesie]

I don't I'm afraid, Yes. The main WA site asks for any donations in kind to be made to your local refuge so I guess you could contact them directly?

[HardcoreLadyType]

Our local WA is doing a drive for bedding, Yes, rather than the shoeboxes of toiletries etc they did last year.

[BewitchedBotheredandBewildered]

Good plan, thank you.

[BantyCustards]

Survivor of DV here - thank you MN.

[BIWI]

I think they're great choices, Justine.

I'm still sad - although I absolutely get the reasons why - that the Christmas gifting/appeal/secret Santa isn't happening any more. I know that it reflects the size of the site (and that's obviously a good thing for all of us), but it's the downside of this growth

[WetDogLovesHubert]

Great idea, and a wonderful way to give at this time of year.

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

Youve certainty chosen a fantastic charity to support. After all these are women/men who have literally fled quite often with just their clothes on their back.
I'll be more than glad to help

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

I do think its a good thing that Secret Santa is no more. Things like that can often breed resentment.

[EveOnline2016]

Brilliant idea.

[BigApple11]

Food banks will definitely take nappies and are very grateful for them (food bank worker here)

[cozietoesie]

I assume they'll also take unwanted (but sealed) pet food, Big? Are there any other things that are acceptable but people may not necessarily think of them?

[BigApple11]

Cozie, yes to pet food. Our definitely does, you might want to check with your local one.
Things we always need but are not always thought of:

Ladies Sanitary items
Toothbrushes / toothpaste
Washing up liquid
Clothes washing liquid / powder
Shower gel / soap
Shampoo / conditioner

Don't mean to hijack the thread but happy to try and answer any other food bank questions

[Boundaries]

Brilliant.

Good work MNHQ.

[stumblymonkey]

Great idea, looking forward to donating and will see if my local refuge need anything too, it must be such a hard time to be in a refuge...

[cozietoesie]

....which helps one to realise how awful must be the alternative for some adults and children.

[ElsaAintAsColdAsMe]

Thank you so much for this MNHQ.

I ended up in a refuge just before Christmas and it was only thanks to the generosity of people that my dc had a Christmas that year.

It felt amazing just to be free and safe finally, we had nothing and within days we had clothes, some toys, food and even a tree and some decorations. WA had donations from people and pretty much sorted Christmas presents out for my dc that year.

Each and every donation will be so appreciated. Thank you to everyone who is donating

[cozietoesie]

You had nothing? Lordy.

People can sometimes forget how desperate the situations of some others can be.

[cozietoesie]

It strikes me that these appeals might be a good solution to the 'problem' of what to give older relatives at Xmas - make a donation of a small amount on their behalf and print out the appeal details to wrap up for giving.

Who knows what people have been through in their lives after all, and even if they've not had such problems, it might actually get them interested in the issues. You don't have to tell them the amount either.