Domestic Violence Abuse affects one in four women in their lifetime and sadly the festive period can often mean an increase with many women and children seeking refuge.
South Ribble Women's Refuge is therefore urging kind-hearted members of the public to play Secret Santa this Christmas in donating presents to the Refuge's resident children.
Special gift tags are now hanging on wish trees thanks to staff at Progress Housing Group and South Ribble Borough Council.
Refuge Manager, Liz Stanton, said: “Christmas is a very busy time for us with many women and children fleeing to us to escape domestic abuse and the often arrive with nothing but the clothes they are standing in.
“By asking people to selecting a tag from the wish tree and donate a gift they can be a secret Santa and help make this Christmas a happy one for the women and children living at Clare House.”
The gifts received will also be sent to the refuges resettlement service, as well as homeless and vulnerable families across South Ribble.
The Christmas wish trees are located at South Ribble Borough Council's Civic Centre in Leyland and the reception of Sumner House, King Street, Leyland.
Gifts will be collected at 12pm on Wednesday 21st December in time to be distributed before Christmas.
Since Clare House opened its doors in 2000, the refuge has provided a safe haven to over 500 women and their children and Refuge staff have supported a further 200 women through its community resettlement service.
