North Down and Ards Women’s Aid has launched its Christmas appeal to help transform the festive season for families in need.
The group was established after a need for crisis intervention for women and children experiencing domestic violence in the local area was identified at a public meeting in Bangor in 1982.
Due to coronavirus they have a higher number of families to help this year than ever before.
It provides a range of services including emergency accommodation, floating support, education and personal development programmes and support services for children and young people.
The refuge is accommodation that provides somewhere safe for women and children fleeing from domestic and sexual violence and abuse.
CEO Beth Scott told Belfast Live how the Bangor-based group makes a difference in the whole Ards and North Down area.
She said: "Most importantly they empower women and children to really come to terms with their situation and encourage plans for the future.
"Every year we do a Christmas appeal, we get quite a lot of support from the community.
"We are helping women who are struggling financially and living independently now or families in the refuge, to put food on the table for Christmas and have some toys for their children. It's generally helping them through their first year to provide them with essentials for Christmas.
"This year we would have the highest number of families to work with to date."
The CEO explained why the Christmas appeal is so important.
She said: "It's important for families to have Christmas, to have that celebration of life.
"It's important for children too - and for Santa to come to them. We help bring that normality to their lives.
"Over the past few years and now too due to Covid, there is more and more dependency on food banks, there is an increase in poverty and deprivation in our area that we are working with."
The charity is looking for women's gifts, gifts for teenagers - a particular area that is needed - and toys for younger children.
An Amazon wishlist has also been made for stocking fillers. A giving tree will be placed at Bloomfield Shopping Centre - and Women's Aid are amazed at the generosity of the local community.
Beth said: "This is where we speak to families and ask mum to identify a gift for their child under £15. Children's names are changed and put on the tree. Shoppers can go in and lift a tag, with the age and go and purchase it and drop it back off.
"Every year we are absolutely delighted at the generosity and at times overwhelmed at how caring the Ards and North Down community is."
Beth said the best way to help and find out what to donate is to call the resource centre on 02891273196 as they know exactly what is needed.
To find out more, visit https://ndawomensaid.org/
