For most people, Christmas is a time of joy, when families come together to share love and laughter. But for women and children living with an abuser, Christmas is just another day of fear, violence and cruelty.
At Women’s Aid, we don’t think anyone should have to endure domestic abuse and abuse, on Christmas Day or on any other day. That’s why we work 365 days a year to give women and children safe refuge, emotional support and practical help to get their lives back on track.
Our 24 Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including on Christmas Day. The Helpline offers support, advice and a listening ear to any woman or man affected by domestic and sexual violence. Last year we managed 29,657 calls. Each one of those calls brought a victim of domestic abuse one step closer to freedom and safety.
We also work all year round to act as the voice of victims, putting pressure on our Government to make Northern Ireland a safer place for victims and a more hostile place for perpetrators of abuse. And we are working with schools, community groups and the media to stop domestic abuse in its tracks, by training people to know the signs of abuse and how to help victims, and building a movement of women and men who stand up and say NO MORE to domestic abuse.
We need your help to keep doing this vital work, and make Christmas safer for women and children.
You can donate in three ways:
- Donate online through our website www.womensaidni.org/support-us
- Donate using your mobile phone. Text WANI01 and the amount you want to donate to 70070.
- Send us a cheque payable to Women’s Aid Federation NI.
You can also leave gifts for women and children in our refuges throughout Northern Ireland. Contact us for further details.
All donations will be greatly appreciated. Please help us continue our work for those who face a bleak Christmas, suffering violence in their own homes.
We thank you and wish you a Peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.