Christmas Wish Tree Appeal - supporting families in local refuges this winter

Send a gift to a woman or child staying at a refuge this Christmas.

Our South Ribble and Chorley Women’s Refuges are asking local people for their help to support vulnerable families in their communities by taking part in their Christmas Wish Tree Appeal.

For women and children escaping domestic abuse, the thought of not being at home this Christmas can be distressing. Many have fled to our services with little more than the clothes on their backs, and Christmas presents are often seen as a luxury they cannot afford.

The idea of the Wish Tree is simple, visit one of the wish trees and select a tag. Each tag provides a 'wish'; for example, a toy car or colouring book for a young child, a board game for a family or a box of chocolates for one of the women staying at the refuges. Once you have bought the gift please return it unwrapped with the tag to where a Wish Tree is located.

You can find this year’s Christmas Wish Trees at our Sumner House office on King Street in Leyland, and at South Ribble Borough Council's Civic Centre on West Paddock in Leyland.

Gifts will be collected at 1 pm on Monday 16 December in time to be distributed before Christmas.

Claire Moxham, Manager of South Ribble and Chorley Women’s Refuges said: “Each and every year, local people have shown such wonderful Christmas spirit with their overwhelming support of our Wish Tree Appeal. Over the last 20 years you have help make Christmas happen for hundreds of vulnerable families in South Ribble and Chorley. This year, we need to ask for your help once again to support families who are victims of domestic abuse and homelessness and staying in our refuges, along with the young people staying in our homelessness accommodation. Your help really does make a big difference.

“From all of us at South Ribble and Chorley Refuges, Progress Housing Group and Key Unlocking Futures we thank you for all your generosity and support.”

If you are suffering from abuse at home or you know someone who is, please call the South Ribble and Chorley domestic abuse helpline to speak to an advisor in confidence on 01772 435865. The line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Alternatively, phone the free National Domestic Abuse Helpline in confidence, open 24 hours a day, on 0808 200024 or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk