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

[nocampinghere]

no. i have no idea where it is.
i have looked on the refuge site - under how to help it just gives the different ways to donate £.

[MrsPnut]

If you google the area you live in and domestic abuse service then it should bring up the details for your local organisation. If not then you can ring the council and ask to leave a message for the department that deals with domestic abuse.

[cozietoesie]

Thanks for that, MrsP.

[cozietoesie]

If I were a really uncharitable person, I would be grinning at the thought of MN's FA writhing at the figures. Well over £6k donated to the two central charities by MN supporters so far - and all to be matched by MNHQ.

(And that doesn't include the donations made to local organisations by many supporters!)

Well done so far, everybody - and well done MNHQ.

[cozietoesie]

Oh - and neither does it count the substantial amounts of Gift Aid which will cover Just Giving's costs.

[FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse]

Donated. Brilliant idea. Thanks MN

[cozietoesie]

A week to go now.

[cozietoesie]

Nearly £7k to the central appeal from over 250 supporters - which means a further contribution of nearly £7k from MNHQ. Well done everybody. I'm sure that it will make a real Xmas difference.

(And that doesn't include the local contributions which people have made.)

[cozietoesie]

We've hit £7k.

[cozietoesie]

Knickers and slippers.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Yes indeed, knickers and slippers for all who need them. :)

Happy Christmas everyone

[cozietoesie]

I think that that may become my watchword. I was extraordinarily moved that just those things could mean so much to women.

Happy Xmas to everybody - and especially those who are free tonight.

[cozietoesie]

And as it's Xmas?

[Solo]

Bit annoyed that although I left the 'name' box blank on the WA one it shows my name, but I did the same on Refuge and it comes up 'anonymous'.

[Teaspoon74]

This is such a fab way to show support and solidarity!!

We've just set up a WI in my area and rather than do Secret Santa we did a Secret Sanitary where we donated tampons, pads etc individually and arranged for the Trussell Trust to collect from our Xmas party and distribute to refugees and less well off women that need them.

It's nice to be nice at Christmas ;)

[cozietoesie]

That's a little 'niggly', Solo. Still, I guess it doesn't hurt too much?

I'm hoping that some of the donations will transmogrify into longer term support, Tea. Fingers crossed, anyway - and well done your area.

[Teaspoon74]

Me too, cozie!

[Solo]

Yes to niggly cozie as I would have preferred to remain anonymous, otherwise would have used my real name. Never mind.

[Ifailed]

sad news: Asha Women's Centre, in Worcester, to shut following long struggle for funding

www.droitwichadvertiser.co.uk/news/regional/14988583.Women__39_s_centre_to_shut_following_long_struggle_for_funding/?ref=rss

[cozietoesie]

That's very saddening, Ifailed. It shows, as much as anything, how that continuing advocacy from people here is needed, I think?

[cozietoesie]

Today is, I think, the last full day of the appeal? Just over £7.3k so far from over 270 supporters which is really wonderful. (Equates to over £14k when you include the matching contribution from MNHQ.)

Plus contributions which people have made to local refuges etc? (And costs likely all covered by the Gift Aid contributions.)

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello all,

Hope you all had a very happy Christmas! Thanks very much to everyone who contributed to our appeal - you’ve raised £3,574.97 for Refuge and £3,763.08 for Women’s Aid (Federation Of England)! We’ll be matching these amounts and we’ll post an update to confirm when we’ve made the donations.

Thank you again for supporting these brilliant organisations
MNHQ

[cozietoesie]

Thank you Bojana - and all at MNHQ.

[cozietoesie]

I see the MNHQ donations have gone in.

Well done everybody.

Knickers and slippers!