Backpackers’ death sparks campaign to help domestic abuse survivors in NI
The drive aims to provide domestic abuse victims with essential items, but with dignity
A North Coast charity is championing a special initiative after the high profile killing of a young backpacker in New Zealand.
The Love Grace handbag appeal, named after strangle victim Grace Millane, is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.
The campaign urges people to donate a handbag with essential items in it for domestic abuse survivors.
The young Essex woman was murdered on the eve of her 22 birthday.
She was strangled by a man she had met on a dating site while in Aukland, and her body was found buried in a suitcase.
The Love Grace handbag appeal was then set up by Grace’s family and friends as a legacy in her name.
Since Grace’s death, the family have also raised money for White Ribbon charities in the UK and in New Zealand.
The organisations educate at a grassroots level and raise awareness of male violence towards women.
Now, the Coleraine based charity, Ashes to Gold, has launched the first drop-off hub across the province and is calling on people in the community to donate.
The items are then passed on to Causeway and Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid.
Alison McCloskey, from Ashes to Gold, is responsible for spearheading the appeal here after watching a programme about Grace Millane’s tragic death in 2018.
Alison initially wanted to donate to the appeal personally, however there were no drop-off points in NI.
She then contacted the appeal to launch the project here and received approval in December 2021.
Alison said the goal is to give women who are on their journey of recovery from domestic abuse a gift.
She said: “They collect handbags and then fill them with basic items like shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and deodorant and then they put some extras in and some luxuries in.
“They say for every handbag they give they give a smile.
“We at Ashes to Gold, we decided right this is something that we could do, and we just know the community here is brilliant so they would want to get behind it.
“We got approved at around Christmas time to become the first drop-off point in Northern Ireland.
“So, we’re hoping that it starts to maybe filter through the country as well.
“Our donations are going to Causeway and Mid Ulster Women’s aid, we have a centre here in Coleraine.
“It costs nothing to organise, it’s all based on donations from the community.
“It’s just time, using your time to fill up the bags and pass them on, but yes it’s a lovely idea.”
Donations can be made at the Ashes to Gold Office at Loughanhill Industrial Estate, Coleraine or East Londonderry MLA Clair Sugden has also opened her office for donations.
She added: “Well, we think, I suppose if a woman was to have to flee her home and come to the Women’s Aid accommodation and might not have anything with them and that’s quite common.
“We are thinking we’re giving them the basics that they need.
“You know if you think even if it was your first night staying somewhere like that and you get to have a shower with your own stuff and you’ve some wee creams, just wee things that I suppose are personal to you, rather than having to go and use just a shower gel from somebody.
“Also, to let that person know that the community is behind them and there’s people out there that care and that we’re thinking about you.
“So, the main aim I suppose is to pass that on to the women and to give them a reason to smile even if it is something small like that you know.
“It’s also giving the community an opportunity to show those women that we care and that we are behind them and wishing them well on their way.
“I suppose the third thing behind it as well if we could maybe get some youth groups and younger people organisations involved in this campaign.
“It gives us the opportunity to talk to young women and I suppose to educate them on what is acceptable, these things can happen, and it strikes up so many conversations.”
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