Leeds Women’s Aid has announced its participation in the Big Give Women and Girls Campaign this October, aiming to raise funds to sustain its online chat service – a safe and discreet way for women and girls across Leeds to access support.

Running from Wednesday 8th October to Wednesday 15th October, every donation made through the Big Give portal will be doubled, offering supporters the opportunity to make twice the impact.

Since the online chat launched five years ago, there have been more than 1,600 contacts. The service was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to the rising demand during lockdown, when victim-survivors were unable to access support outside their homes. For many women, making a phone call is not safe, with over half of service users reporting that they feel unable to speak on the phone due to the risk of being overheard.

The online chat service is staffed by Domestic Violence and Abuse Support Workers who provide advice, safety planning, and signposting to emergency accommodation when needed.

Nik Peasgood, Chief Executive of Leeds Women’s Aid, said: “We are delighted to be part of the Big Give Women and Girls Campaign. In today’s challenging funding environment, where many charities have sadly had to close similar services, we are proud to have kept our online chat running for five years. Originally launched in response to the pandemic, it remains a vital point of access for victim-survivors seeking guidance and safety. The Big Give gives our supporters a unique opportunity to double their donations and directly help us sustain this essential service.”

Leeds Women’s Aid aims to raise £10,000 during the campaign week, the equivalent of 500 hours of support through their online live chat service, which costs £20 per hour to run.

Alongside the campaign, Leeds Women’s Aid will also be celebrating a major milestone in October, which marks the 10-year anniversary of its Horsforth charity shop. From the 6th to 26th October, the store will host a series of community events including prize giveaways, outfit challenges, kids’ craft sessions, tea and coffee mornings and a raffle.

Window displays will also showcase the shop’s journey from 2015 to 2025, marking a decade of community support and fundraising for the charity’s life-saving services.

How to donate:

• Visit the Big Give campaign page between 8^th-15^th October
• Donations can be made via debit/credit card or Apple/Google Pay
• All donations made through the portal during the week will be doubled

https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS000005IwU5YAK

Celebrating a decade of its shop on New Road Side, Horsforth, the Leeds Women’s Aid team are pictured with Leeds MP and Leeds Women’s Aid ambassador Katie White. Since the shop opened in October 2015, it has been supported by more than 50 volunteers who’ve dedicated 72 hours per week to keep it running, and has sold more than 60,000 items, including almost 800 items via its eBay shop. The Leeds Women’s Aid shop is supported by almost 3,000 Gift Aid donors and has diverted more than 228,000 kgs of clothing from going to landfill.

 

Katie White OBE MP – Member of Parliament for Leeds North West and Leeds Women’s Aid Ambassador – said:  “I’m so thrilled to see our Leeds Women’s Aid shop in Horsforth going from strength to strength as it celebrates this significant milestone.  It’s a wonderful shop, lovingly curated, full of treasure, and always worth a visit when I’m passing. Beyond raising awareness and vital funds for Leeds Women’s Aid, it also plays an important role in keeping our high streets thriving. I congratulate the staff and volunteers for their outstanding service, and I urge the wider community to support their great work and keep shopping local.”

Leeds Women's Aid

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