Waltham Forest Secret Santa 2022

This is the 5th year of the Waltham Forest Secret Santa. We collect new gifts for women and children escaping domestic abuse, forced to spend Christmas in a refuge shelter. These gifts are then distributed locally and around London, through domestic violence charities.

The first year we collected 200 gift bags, then 500, and last year nearly 1000 lovely gift bags were handed out. The unfortunate truth is this year, alike the last two years, the pressure on these charities due to the pandemic has been even greater. The Guardian reported that calls related to domestic abuse came in to the police every 30 seconds in the first 7 weeks of lockdown. The repercussions of Covid-19 has made the situation much, much worse.

Our aim is to give these women and their children some hope, joy, and love from their community, with a little bit of brand new luxury just for them, in what is some of their darkest days. Some quotes we have received in the past show this can be the beacon of light they need:

"It really restored my faith in people, and that there is hope and a brighter future waiting for my daughter and me"

"I wasn't expecting to be overwhelmed by such love. The whole experience brought me to tears. The gifts were thoughtful and will always be appreciated"

With this money, we want to help support the local independent shops that are still getting back on their feet following the forced closures of the pandemic. I will buy gifts from these Waltham Forest stores, and will constantly post photos of what the GoFundMe money has bought, from where, on our Instagram page. So you will be helping the community in more ways that one!

This year the gifts will be given once again to Solace Women's Aid, Refuge Women's Aid, Ashiana Network Charity, Kiran Support Services, Medaille Trust, and Haven Network, with the majority going to women and children affected in the borough.

Gift bag value maximum is £20, so I will buy what works with what you donate - £5 or £50!

Gifts must all be bought and collected by Sunday 20th Nov, so donations must be in by Friday 18th Nov.

For more info please find us on Instagram or contact me here.

Thank you!