If you are a regular reader you will know that I have decided to undertake a personal challenge to help those less fortunate than myself this festive season and have based it on Women’s Aid as this is a charity close to my own heart.
This time 16 years ago I was in a Women’s Aid refuge after domestic violence with my 6 month old baby, we had no money, no home and no way of knowing what the future would hold for us both.
Over the years I have reflected on my time in the refuge many many time and I know without their help and ongoing support in the months after living in the refuge I would not be the same person I am today.
Although it can be known that I am somewhat mardy and stubborn at times I am pretty happy with how strong I am as a person. I’m confident with where I came from and have been able to put to bed the past on a whole, although aspects of what I went through will always haunt me.
Last year I decided to take part in a reverse advent over the festive season and donated to a local food bank. This time my efforts will be going to Women’s Aid, in fact directly to the refuge my daughter and I lived in all those years ago.
As part of this donation drive I will be donating food, clothing, toys, games, baby items, toiletries and gifts out of my own pocket, cupboards or even going and buying some bits directly for them this festive season.
I am thrilled with how much support I have received as I was worried that I wouldn’t make much of a difference on my own. Till a whole host of amazing brands came forward to offer their help too.
Every few days I will be writing an update and sharing with you what I am including in my reverse advent to help give you some ideas if you want to donate items yourself along with me and also to share what amazing brands have helped us too!
After speaking with Women’s Aid directly they have been amazingly grateful for any help we can give as with changes to the housing reform recently it looks like the last fixed form of funding that they were receiving will now no longer exist, which may mean refuge closures across the county which for me sends shivers down my spine!
Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, said: “Christmas is a time of giving. We are delighted that Jaime is generously donating to the women and children who have escaped abusive homes to a Women’s Aid refuge this Christmas.
“Christmas can be a difficult time for the women and children living in refuge. Often they have had to move away from their family, friends and community to escape domestic abuse; many have had to flee with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Jaime’s reverse advent sends out a powerful message to survivors that they are not alone and that they will be supported.
“You can join Jaime in making sure that Christmas will be a safe as well as a special one for women and children escaping domestic abuse by donating to Women’s Aid today: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/donate/”
So people of the internet I would be amazingly thrilled if you could help me this festive season too, it would be amazing if you decided not to over indulge too much this festive season and save your waistline by not eating that extra few cakes or drinking those extra few sherries and pop the value of that over to the link above. Or how about doing your own reverse advent and contacting your local Women’s Aid refuge to drop off your donations (you can find out more info on your local Women’s Aid HERE)
If you aren’t in a position to donate goods or money I would be immensely grateful if could maybe share a tweet or a Facebook post sharing this post so others might be able to help support such a wonderful charity too. If you want to follow along with my reverse advent journey I will be using the hashtag #WomensAidReverseAdvent so please do pop over and show some support.
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