We’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone who took part in our #FindTheGlowThisXmas appeal over Christmas.
As well as raising vital funds for our three refuges in Staffordshire, the campaign aimed to raise awareness of what refuges are and the importance of them. Staff and customers from Glow spoke to both BBC Radio Stoke and Signal 1 about the services and the impact they have.
Vicki Bevington, who runs on of Glow’s three refuges, said: “Refuges provide that life line for those people in crisis situations when they’ve got nowhere else to turn.
“It doesn’t matter if they’ve got no financial income because we’ll help and support them with that and it doesn’t matter if they don’t have a big support network because we can help them build one.
“If people don’t know that services are there or if the services aren’t available, people’s lives are at risk.”
In the UK, one in six refuges have closed since 2010 because of a lack in funding. Around 60 per cent of women looking for refuge space are being turned away because there is not enough space. With no money, nowhere safe to go, and nowhere to turn, victims and children are at high risk of returning to their abuser.
Vicki believes that funding cuts to refuges are putting lives at risk: “When refuges are cut and funding is cut, where do people turn to, how can they access that emergency accommodation in times of crisis if it’s not available. People’s lives are at risk. That’s the harsh reality of refuges closing.”
Christina Hunter, Glow’s Fundraising Manager, has been out and about across the region speaking to businesses and groups about the work we do and how their donations will help. She said “We are so thrilled that so many people and companies have come together this festive period and helped to raise over £2,500 for #FindTheGlowThisXmas.
“We really can not thank everyone enough for their generosity and support, what a huge difference it has made to Glow and our families in refuge.”
You can donate towards the work Glow do on our general Just Giving page.
