Refuge’s 40th birthday

Refuge’s 40th birthday – get involved and become a Refuge Champion today

Refuge has come a long way since it opened the world’s first refuge in 1971.  What started out as a single house in Chiswick, West London, has grown to become the country’s largest single provider of emergency accommodation and specialist support for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Securing Refuge’s funding is becoming more and more challenging – with worrying local authority cuts looming and an austere economic climate we are concerned about the future of our services.  We need your help.

Become a Refuge Champion by helping us to achieve our birthday wish list.

Refuge’s 40th birthday wish list

We’re asking our supporters to help us to:

  • Ensure that every woman and child in our refuges gets at least one Christmas present this year. Help Refuge support women and children in refuges this Christmas by buying a present or two from our John Lewis Christmas Gift list. Please promote and advertise the list as much as possible – it’s open until 7th December. Visit https://www.johnlewisgiftlist.com/ and use the gift list number 478985
  • Fill all our places in the London Marathon and the Brighton Marathon. Sign up yourself or spread the word to any friends and family who appreciate a challenge! We’re recruiting for the London or Brighton marathons, half marathons, a 10k run and cycle events. Look at our running events and sign up
  • Get 40 new regular donors in time for Christmas. Set up a regular donation and help Refuge plan for the future, expand and develop its services to reach more vulnerable women and children
  • Hold 40 birthday tea parties to raise money. Hold a 40th birthday tea party for Refuge, email fundraising@refuge.org.uk for a tea party pack. Become of one of 40 individuals or groups holding a local fundraising event for Refuge
  • Raise £4000 through our text-to-donate scheme. Text REFU40 £2 to 70070 and give Refuge a 40th birthday present. Pass this number around to everyone you know and ask them to text in any amount from £1 to £10


Or if a challenge is what you would prefer, why not take part in one of our running events?

We have events for all abilities – ranging from marathons and half marathons to smaller events such as 5km or 10km runs.  Or maybe undertake a once-in-a-lifetime challenge like a skydive or an overseas endurance event.  Find out more about how you can fundraise for Refuge in our anniversary year.

Other ways to support Refuge in our 40th birthday month:

1. Get friends and family involved with fundraising for Refuge and ask them to sign up to the Refuge Newsletter

2. Speak out against domestic violence and reach out to support a friend in need by downloading our new Facebook application – 1in4women or by visiting www.1in4women.com

3. Nominate us as your company’s charity of the year

4. Skydive for Refuge! Why not follow in the footsteps of 78 year old Marion Webb who celebrated our 40th birthday by jumping out of a plane?

5. Support Refuge through payroll giving and encourage your work mates to do the same

6. Hold a coffee morning or a dinner party and ask your friends to donate £10+ to attend

7. Organise a quiz or karaoke night in your local pub or community centre

8. Follow @RefugeCharity on Twitter and encourage your family and friends to do so

9. See what local running events are happening in your local area and sign up to raise funds for Refuge

10. Take part in an overseas challenge

11. Watch the BBC Lifeline Appeal

However you choose to support Refuge on our 40th birthday – thank you.