Does Father Christmas come to a refuge?
The answer is yes, with your help, Father Christmas will know just where to find the children, babies and their Mums this Christmas. The refuge for women and children in Milton Keynes provides essential safety at Christmas, and our family support team tries their best to ensure the Christmas magic reaches these families in our care.
Often we see a child struggle to be away from their home, their friends, school and sometimes the now absent parent or family member. Christmas really is a time when we think of our loved ones which can prove tricky for everyone to navigate in a new setting, with a new family dynamic. The refuge is a crucial space and time for families to get the support they need to begin to heal and learn how to live without the abuser in their life and we try to make the season as magical as possible.
There are various ways you can help a family in a domestic abuse this Christmas…
1. Sponsor a hamper for a family: Gift Christmas dinner
This Christmas we would love your help to raise money to provide a Christmas Hamper for all the families in our service so they can make a special meal in their home in our refuge. The hampers will be specific to the family’s culture and contain all the food for them to make a meal for their family on the 25th December. Each hamper will cost us £40 and will be filled with food for a family of 4 people.
To give a Christmas dinner for a family in the refuge, visit our Local Giving page.
2. Gift supermarket vouchers: Give families choice this Christmas.
We would love supermarket vouchers for the families we support, both at our refuge and in the community, so that parents can pick presents for their children and also buy festive treats. Being able to give supermarket vouchers to families would be very empowering so that they can chose something to suit their child.
“Last year I was given a supermarket voucher from MK Act, so that I could buy
Refuge Resident
presents for my children, as well as being able to buy our festive meal. This really
made my Christmas! I loved seeing my children’s faces after being able to get them something on their lists. The vouchers were also fantastic as we could buy the food which is traditional for Christmas within our culture. I can’t thank the people who donated the money enough.”
To sponsor a hamper for a family or buy a supermarket voucher please visit:
https://localgiving.org/christmas2023
Alternatively, You can post vouchers directly to us via:
MK Act, FAO: Lolly Marlborough, Acorn House, 381 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 3HP
Or email the e-voucher to [email protected]
3. Buy a Christmas gift for a mother or child in the refuge
This year we are asking for gifts suitable for:
- Children under 1 years old (all genders)
- Teenagers (all genders)
- Gifts the children can present to their Mothers.
We are always very grateful for presents for teenage boys and Barbies, Action Figures, and dolls of varied ethnicities as we always particularly in need of these.
Gift guidance:
- Please note, due to health and safety we can only accept new toys and new clothes.
- We also cannot accept toy guns and knives.
- We ask for all presents to be either in gift bags or plastic bags with a label on with the child’s age.
- Please do not wrap the gifts.
Drop off Christmas gifts
We ask for all presents to be either in gift bags or plastic bags with a label on with the child’s age, Please do not wrap the gifts.
Presents can be dropped off between 1st November and 8th December, Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 1pm.When you arrive to the reception at Acorn House, there is a phone on reception where you can call up to our office and one of our team will come down and meet you.
Acorn House, 381 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 3HP
Please email us once you have dropped off your gifts or vouchers so we can thank you
Thank you so much your kindness and thinking of us this Christmas,
With Festive Cheer, All the team at MK ACT.