£40,000 donated to charities to tackle rise in domestic violence
Central England Co-op has donated £40,000 to two charities to support those impacted by a rise in domestic violence.
The retailer has given £20,000 each to Refuge and Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid to support the great work being undertaken to provide those who need support and advice.
This comes in response to a surge of 60 per cent in calls to Refuge's National Domestic Abuse Helpline following lockdown.
Maureen Connolly, chief executive of Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, said: “Home is not always the safest place, Covid-19 has forced women and children who are victims of domestic abuse, to stay at home with their abusers.
“Through conversations on our extended helpline, our new webchat facility and home option hub, we have been able to offer support and routes to safety.
“Our refuges remain open and staffed, and we have throughout the crisis been supporting families who live there.
“It is with enormous gratitude that we receive this support and this will be used to keep women and children safe, care for their emotional and physical well-being and hopefully be able offer a bit of fun, that we all need, under such challenging circumstances."
