Mandy Thomson from R&S Robertson raised money for Refuge by doing 3000 squats in a month.

Mandy said “I noticed the ‘3000 Squats in November’ challenge on a friend’s FB page and read up a bit more about the charity.  The services and help Refuge provides are much needed and most likely even more so given the current pandemic situation which forces vulnerable people to remain within a potentially dangerous environment.  100 squats per day for a month seemed challenging but knowing it would raise money for a good cause and help get me back in shape, plus the added bonus that every penny raised would be matched by the Denman Charitable Trust made it a no-brainer!

Rose Neild from Refuge replied “The generous donation from the Denman Charitable Trust has enabled Refuge to continue providing its life-changing and life-saving support to 7,000 survivors of domestic abuse on any given day. Domestic abuse is the biggest social issue affecting women and children and has never been more of an issue than it is now, as COVID-19 restrictions have forced women and children to stay at home with their abusers. As we enter a third lockdown, the next few months will be a challenging and worrying time for thousands of women and children across the country at growing risk of abuse and violence.

Refuge provides a national network of refuges, offering safe accommodation for women and children fleeing abuse. We also provide children’s support services, independent advocacy and community outreach. We run specialist services for survivors of modern slavery, ‘honour’-based violence, and female genital mutilation. Refuge also runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline which answers over 270 calls every day. All of our services have remained open during the pandemic and we are rising to meet the growing need for our support.  

Thank you to the Denman Charitable Trust for helping us continue to provide this vital work.