The gift of giving: Joy at Women’s refuge with locals' generosity this Christmas

When local business women Emma Ranson Bellamy, owner of fashion chain SNOB, called upon her customers to help women in crisis she was overwhelmed with their generous response.

Emma appealed for her shoppers to fill shoeboxes with beauty goodies to be distributed to vulnerable women in the South West and was astounded when, between her four stores, 90 filled boxes were donated.

After hearing about the charity Elle for Elle which collects and distributes the beauty boxes to women’s refuges across the North West of England, Emma contacted its volunteers to see if she could support women in need closer to home. The charity offered to contact refuges in Devon but Emma was shocked to find that many had closed due to lack of funding;

She said: “I then found out that CHAT (Church Housing Association Trust) support many vulnerable ladies and families around Tiverton and this was a way of keeping the boxes local. I couldn’t believe the response, the ladies of SNOB really pulled out all the stops, they got together in their work, schools and families. People pulled out their bathroom cabinets, and visited the shops with some lovely donations. Local businesses donated as well.

“Everyone was so generous, happy to donate - reaching out to women, without judgement and giving them a bit of luxury and offering them the gift of self care this Christmas.”

Emma had initially set customers at her boutiques in Budleigh, Crediton, Wellington and Tiverton the target of filling 40 boxes and was thrilled when donations hit over 90 boxes.

“I’ve been totally blown away by the amazing response from my customers. Elle for Elle is a voluntary organisation run by women in Cheshire. Their strap line is the ‘Empowered woman helping the disempowered’. The response from customers made me hugely proud to be part of this amazing network of women.”