Loading ...South Birmingham Domestic Abuse Forum have launched the now annual “First Night” campaign which seeks to raise awareness about the support available to victims of domestic violence during the Christmas and New Year period. This important campaign also encourages donations to support those women and families who will need to leave their homes as a result of domestic violence and are being supported in the City’s refuges.
For many people, Christmas and New Year is a great time of joy but it can be difficult for those living in fear of violence or abuse in their own homes. Domestic violence is not just a private matter and everyone need needs to be involved in helping victims and as well as raising awareness about this issue you can also practically help to support families in their first nights during this difficult time.
Nationally, there were more than a million female victims of domestic violence in England and Wales last year. And every week two of those women lose their lives at the hands of a current or former partner. Unfortunately this issue is particularly prominent during the Christmas and New Year period and last year for example, over 200 women in south Birmingham presented themselves as homeless as a result of suffering domestic violence over December and January.
There are a range of domestic violence and sexual violence services available in Birmingham, funded and delivered by organisations such as Birmingham City Council and Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid. These encompass advice and support through to emergency accommodation and refuge. Central to this campaign is the support provided in the city through its network of refuges and last year for example, approximately 125 women and 300 children spent their Christmas and New Year in refuges in Birmingham.
If you would like to help, from 5th December to 9th January there will be various collection points around the city where you can donate a number of items such as colouring books and toiletries to help make a difficult first night in refuge easier. For further information please refer to the attached poster or visit www.birminghamcsp.org.uk
How can you get involved and help?
1. Make a donation – suitable items which families can use on their first nights in refuge including colouring books, pencils and crayons, puzzles, books to read, toiletries and chocolate. See below for collection points/ dates.
2. Display posters – you can print off the PDF or request a number of A2 and A3 posters. These can be delivered to you to promote the campaign within your facilities and potentially advertise them as collection points.
3. Circulate this information to your colleagues, staff and mailing lists to raise awareness of the campaign and encourage people to make a donation.
4. Become a collection and donation point – if you are interested in your centre/ facility becoming a collection point, please contact us to arrange this. Appropriate collection days and times can then be arranged with you and with your permission your details will also be added to the list of collection points. These will be promoted on the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership and Women’s Aid websites.
5. Bring your donations along to the South Birmingham Domestic Abuse Forum, the next meeting of which takes place on 15th December.
Venues for First Night campaign donations
15th December only – South Birmingham Domestic Abuse Forum meeting, 9.00am – 12.30pm. Billesley Hub, 725 Yardley Wood Road, Billesley, B13 0PT
Selly Oak Constituency Office, 1459 Pershore Rd, Stirchley, B30 2JL
Maypole Childrens Centre, 15 Grendon Road, Warstock, B14 4RB
Woodgate Valley Fire Station, 161 Stonehouse Lane, Quinton, B32 3AG
Bournville Lane Police Station, 341 Bournville Lane, Bournville, B30 1QX
Allens Croft Childrens Centre, Allens Croft Road, Kings Heath, B14 6RP
Northfield Fire Station, South Road, Northfield, B31 2RB (collection on 15th December)
Chinn Brook Childrens Centre, 213 Trittiford Road, Billesley, B13 0ET
Fox Hollies Leisure Centre, Shirley Rd, Acocks Green B27 7NS
Stechford Cascades, Station Rd, Stechford, B33 8QN
Louisa Ryland House, 44 Newhall Street, city centre, B3 3PL (BCC Performance Review Team)
Birmingham Womens Hospital, Mindlesohn Way, Edgbaston, B15 2TG
If you wish to find out more about the campaign, offer your venue for donations or order posters, please go to our Contact Us page.
