Hamworthy staff donate Christmas gifts to local women’s refuge
For 18 women and three children, staying in a BCHA (Bournemouth Churches Housing Association) Women’s Refuge this Christmas will provide them with a safe, warm and secure place where they also can wake up to presents under the tree, thanks to Hamworthy staff at our Poole Head Office.
BCHA is committed to working with men and women aged 16 and over, with or without children, who have suffered from domestic abuse, enabling them to regain control of their lives.
At the organisation’s Poole Women’s Refuge, staff are on hand 24 hours a day to provide practical and emotional support to families fleeing domestic abuse. Arriving with very few personal items and faced with unfamiliar surroundings, Christmas can be a particularly difficult time.
The Poole BCHA branch currently supports 18 women and three teenage children who were not going to receive Christmas presents this year. After speaking to the refuge and getting an idea of suitable gift ideas, these items were circulated to staff at our Poole office who were then invited to pick a person to shop for. Armed with their Christmas lists, staff were set a £20 limit per recipient, which they could claim back after purchasing their gift. Once presents were bought, a team of helpers were on hand to wrap the gifts and get them ready for collection by Lucy Giles, a representative for the BCHA refuge.
As most of us excitedly begin the countdown to Christmas, this time of year can be an incredibly difficult time for some. Those suffering from domestic abuse often leave their homes quickly with very little so we were delighted to be able to get involved with this festive donation and help share the magic of Christmas with local families.
For more information on how to support BCHA visit: https://www.bcha.org.uk/get-involved/ or to access a BCHA Refuge, call 01202 710777 or email abusesupport@bcha.org.uk