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

[ElsaAintAsColdAsMe]

Nothing at all. We literally ran with some photos in a bag and the clothes we were wearing.

We weren't unusual in that either.

I remember sobbing my heart out with gratitude when we were given toothbrushes and toothpaste and soap. Then they sorted out clothes for us from the second hand donations they receive, same with some toys for my dc. They organised a food bank delivery too.

Every single person who donates to WA will make such a huge difference to the lives of people like me and my children, I can't even begin to express my gratitude to the anonymous donors who generously donated to WA the year we were in there, it really meant everything to us.

[cozietoesie]

....We weren't unusual in that either....

[ridingsixwhitehorses]

Great idea

[SeamstressfromTreacleMineRoad]

Wonderful idea. Donated.
Thanks MN

[ArcticMumkey]

Donated

[MakeTeaNotWar]

Donated - hope it can ease some of the awful hardships often worsened at this time of year. Well done MNHQ

[annandale]

Really pleased to hear about this decision, I think it's the right one.

[EvenTheWind]

Thanks MNHQ

[AgentProvocateur]

MNHQ, could you confirm whether Scottish Women's Aid will benefit from this appeal, and whether Refuge operate outwith England? A couple of PPs have also asked, but I don't think anyone has answered yet.

[cozietoesie]

From reading the main sites linked in the appeal, it sounds as if the answers to your points are both No. But then Scottish Mumsnetters, in common with Mumsnetters from outwith the UK, have the opportunity to assist further their local refuges, I think? If it's helping any women in DV situations, it doesn't bother me.

[Kr1stina]

Indeed cozietoes

But MNer in France probably know that by donating to this appeal they are not helping local women.

MNers in Wales or Northern Ireland might be misled into thinking that that they are helping local refuges when they are not.

People are just asking for clarity about which charities they are donating too. I don't think thats unreasonable .

[cozietoesie]

I agree - it's not unreasonable. This appeal is just going to be a drop in the ocean though, welcome though that drop will be, especially at this time of year. My hope is that some Mumsnetters will follow up from this with local refuges and WA organisations to provide further and ongoing support.

I'm reading the 'guest post' DV thread on the Relationships Board and I'm aghast at what some people have gone through.

[Kr1stina]

Yes, it's a very worthwhile cause

[BeyondTheHarpy]

Welsh women's aid is separate, link here www.welshwomensaid.org.uk

Not sure about refuge, couldn't get much of an answer from googling

[Onenerfwarfrombreakdown]

Yes great idea MNHQ but could we have links to Scottish, Welsh, NI links too please as people may prefer to support locally not just England.

[lola111]

I think it is a pity you have chosen 2 charities that are so similar.I do not want to support this kind of charity,
I think there should have been an alternative a medical charity, homelessness, one , bereavement, animal, children anything else

[EvenTheWind]

Then go ahead, Lola. MNHQ won't match your donation but presumably they have chosen two charities that they support to commit up to £10k, and they feel more strongly about these than animal charities or the others you mention.

[lola111]

Thank you Captain Obvious

[cozietoesie]

I have supported two of the categories of charity you mention for years, Lola, and will continue to do so. This is an extra appeal.

[cozietoesie]

Sorry - lola.

[ElsaAintAsColdAsMe]

lola MNHQ can't cover a charity to suit everyone.

Women's aid do work with homeless people, all sorts of children's services, legal services, even help out with finding pet fosters, they can help source counselling for families, they work closely with the food bank.

They cover a huge range of things. Obviously you don't wish to donate to them, but they help out with a lot of aspects of things you listed.

[CharliePurple]

This is a much, much better idea than the previous Xmas donations .

[lola111]

lola MNHQ can't cover a charity to suit everyone.

No but by having charities in 2 different fields (rather than 2 in 1 field) you double the chances.

[cozietoesie]

Good points, Elsa.

[Mrscog]

I think the point Lola is that this year they've decided to focus on a single cause which is relevant to any Mn'ers and there just happens to be 2 main charities in that area.

I can't imagine for a minute why you wouldn't want to support this kind of charity though surely they are completely uncontentious!