Regional Charity Launches to Help Women Escaping Domestic Violence

For the vast majority of us, access to general hygiene products, such as shampoo, shower gel, deodorant, is taken for granted - but for many it’s a luxury. A new charity, Elle for Elle, has launched in Knutsford, with the aim of collecting and distributing sanitary wear and every day essentials to vulnerable women currently residing in UK refuges.

Elle for Elle, has named the campaign, ‘Dignity After Distress’ and is the creation of two friends, Lynette Page-Collin and Rachel O’Hare who recognised that women who are forced to take shelter in a refuge usually do so with nothing, often fleeing their homes with young children as a result of domestic violence. Their aim is to collect donated body care, hair care and cosmetic products from local businesses and individuals and distribute them to women’s refuges and shelters in the UK.

There are currently 305 women’s refuges in the UK, housing 12 women per site on average. In most cases, bathrooms are shared between three women with four bathrooms being offered per site. That is potentially 1,200 bathrooms to fill in the UK.

‘Dignity in Distress’ is seeking the products below and on Wednesday 23rd May (and if we get strong support some further dates), I will bring an empty box to collect items and drop them directly with the charity to support their collection drive. All products need to be new and unused.

• Toothpaste

• Tooth brushes

• Tampons

• Sanitary towels

• Deodorants (roll-on)

• Shampoo

• Conditioner

• Soap/body wash

• Makeup – all forms

• Perfume

• Hair bobbles

• Hair brushes

• Flannels

• Shower caps

• Skincare

• Hand lotion

• Body lotion

I’m sure you will all agree this is a great idea and will help to bring some dignity back into the lives of women who have been forced into an awful situation.