Not all holidays are merry

Many of us see the festive period as a chance to celebrate with our favourite people. But for thousands, it will only offer an escalation of what they must endure all year round - domestic violence and abuse, and the looming fear of homelessness.

Domestic violence rises significantly during the holidays. Sadly, not a year goes by when there isn’t a seasonal spike in incidents reported to the police, and since the ease of coronavirus restrictions, domestic violence support services have reported a 56% increase in new referrals, according to Women’s Safety NSW.

When a victim leaves an abusive relationship, it often means leaving the family home, cutting ties to existing accommodation and financial support.

At Vinnies, we have 11 refuges across NSW that offer women and children a sanctuary from their abusers. We help women and children build new lives and move away from relationship violence with a range of specialised services offering tailored support for families, from crisis accommodation and counselling, to case management and financial support, to education and health, as well as helping women and children find a long-term home.

Since Covid-19 began, our services have seen an increase in demand. We need funds to support our life-changing services.

Please donate today and help women and children fleeing domestic abuse this Christmas.