Hestia Charity

Ayla is our wonderful Domestic Abuse Assessment & Referral Manager, managing Hestia's new Refuge Referral Line service. Here, she explains just how vital the service is.
A few hours of your ⏰ can help to change a life. Join Ayla's team, get volunteering 👉 https://www.hestia.org/referral-line

If you've got a few spare pounds, help us support women and children like Lena* and her daughter to recover from domestic abuse this Mother's Day.
£20 provides a welcome pack and a pair of new pyjamas for a child at a refuge
£50 provides an essentials pack for a new mum and her baby, including baby clothes, toiletries, muslins and blankets
... £100 can provide 10 bunches of flowers and cards for 10 children to give to their mums
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Here's to all the mums around the world! You're doing fabulous work - there's no one quite like you!
This time last year, Lena* was looking for support after fleeing 10 years of domestic abuse with her daughter. This Mother's Day, we have an ask.
We're asking you to help women like Lena across our domestic abuse services to recover, to begin to rebuild their lives.
... Read Lena's story 👩‍👧
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Rosa's story.
"He questioned everything I told him. How can you say you’re running away if you have a coat on? Is it this cold in Nigeria? I told him I grabbed a coat that was by the door when I escaped but he didn’t like my answer. How come it fits so well? How come you have warm clothes for your son? He even questioned why I spoke English. He said they don’t speak English in Africa."
This is just one experience faced by a victim of modern slavery seeking help from the police. If we're to tackle modern slavery as a society, we need a better, more informed response from police forces across the country.

Victims of modern slavery should be treated as such, not as criminals. We've launched the first modern slavery super-complaint against police after our findings highlighted that only 7% of recorded cases were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service by police.
The response to modern slavery is improving. Until all victims feel fully and wholeheartedly supported, there's more work to do.

Now that's what we call bravery...😰
Some of our wonderful team, alongside 60 Hogan Lovells fundraisers, have braved a 12 storey drop with an almighty abseil. Thank you for raising money to support adults and children in crisis, and really putting the fun in fundraising! 💪

Thank you to this incredibly brave survivor, Kelly*, who shared her experiences of modern slavery with Sky News. She is now recovering, and is being supported by our Modern Slavery Response team.
New data from the National Crime Agency indicates an 80% rise in potential victims of modern slavery and trafficking since 2016.

If you're on the lookout for a super springtime wardrobe revival, this is the event for you. 👗
Join us at The Leather Bottle Earlsfield this Thursday for a fabulous frock swap, and swap the clothes you no longer wear for something a little more you! All proceeds raised will help us to support adults and children in crisis. Check it out 👇

It's a little gloomy outside, but here's some good news to brighten up the day! 🌞
We'd like to extend our thanks to Cognifide for donating hundreds of essential items to women across our domestic abuse and modern slavery services. Really thoughtful, kind, and will make such a difference.

As #InternationalWomensDay comes to an end, read the stories from this fabulous group, who work and volunteer every day to support adults and children in crisis.
We're inspired by you! 👭

To mark #InternationalWomensDay, we're shining a light on just some of the everyday heroes that work and volunteer across Hestia's services, changing lives every single day. You're incredible! 🤸‍♀️
Click on each photo to read what inspires them about their role, and about the women that inspire them. Or, check out the blog, live on our website now.

"We are all paying the price for the silence that still surrounds the effect that domestic violence is having on children." writes Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove for HuffPost UK. 👈
Thank you for shining a light on our new report, and urging for the Domestic Abuse Bill to put children at the heart of society's response to domestic abuse.

⚠️ Failure to support children exposed to domestic violence costs UK taxpayers up to £1.4bn.
Read our new report On The Sidelines now: https://www.hestia.org/news/press-release -on-the-sidelines

📣 The Domestic Abuse Bill must include specific measures to support children who have experienced domestic abuse and violence.
The failure to support children exposed to domestic violence costs UK taxpayers up to £1.4bn, and the personal cost to these children is inconceivable. Read On The Sidelines, our new report ⬇️

Vodafone are leading the way when it comes to making domestic abuse #EveryonesBusiness. In addition to rolling out the Bright Sky app internationally, the company will also offer paid leave to employees experiencing domestic abuse, alongside other new HR policies.