Hestia launches Emergency Refuge Winter Appeal

Today Hestia launches its Emergency Refuge Winter Appeal, calling for public support to ensure our emergency domestic abuse refuge accommodation can stay open over Christmas.

Donate to the Emergency Refuge Winter Appeal

During the height of the pandemic, Hestia partnered with local and national government to open 24 bed spaces for women and children fleeing domestic abuse during lockdown.

However, funding for our two new emergency refuges is time limited. It will not see us through the second wave.

As we saw earlier this year, home is not a safe place for everyone. As we enter the winter months and the possibility of further lockdown restrictions, people experiencing domestic abuse need emergency accommodation more than ever.

Last month, Hestia published its latest report ‘Domestic Abuse in Lockdown’, revealing the extent of the increase in need for domestic abuse services. There was a near 40 per cent rise in people trying to access our domestic abuse services and an almost 50 per cent increase in users of our Bright Sky support app.

The figures indicate a clear need for domestic abuse support and accommodation now more than ever.

Without these additional refuge spaces we will need to turn away women and their children at high risk of harm.

We are urgently seeking to raise £50,000 to keep our emergency refuge open over Christmas and support all those fleeing their homes.

Donate to the Emergency Refuge Winter Appeal

Anna*, who arrived at our emergency refuge after fleeing her abusive partner during lockdown, said:

“I was with my partner for nearly four years. He had been abusive before the pandemic but it was when lockdown started and we were stuck in the house together that the abuse became so much worse.

I wanted to leave but I was really worried that there was nowhere to go. I started looking online when I could but I wasn’t sure who would be able to help me during lockdown. Eventually I told a friend what had been happening and she said, ‘pack a bag and leave now, just get out’.

Arriving at the refuge I felt very safe.”

Help us to keep our 12-bed emergency refuge running and provide dedicated, tailored support for women and children fleeing domestic abuse during this challenging time.

With your support, there is a life beyond this crisis.

Donate to the Emergency Refuge Winter Appeal

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Read more like this

• Anna's* story: "I told a friend what had been happening and she said, ‘pack a bag and leave now, just get out’."
  
  
• Hestia opens first emergency refuge accommodation for victims of domestic abuse during coronavirus lockdown
  
  
• Life in a refuge: "The impact of the lockdown on the children is tough"

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