Plymouth women's charity launches ambitious goal to help women facing homelessness this Christmas

A Plymouth women's charity has launched an ambitious project for the festive season and needs support from local people. Trevi has unveiled its Big Give Christmas campaign, with an ambitious target of raising £40,000 in one week.

This crucial fundraising drive aims to support women and girls in Plymouth who are dealing with homelessness, abuse, and crisis, ensuring they have access to life-changing therapeutic and practical services, as well as safe spaces.

Donations made before Tuesday, December 10, during the Big Give period will be matched, meaning every pound donated will have twice the impact. The match funding ensures that each act of generosity goes twice as far in helping women and girls in need.

To encourage support for the campaign, Trevi has unveiled an emotive new video which portrays women on the streets as radiant, glowing lights.

It also includes real-life footage of Trevi's dedicated outreach workers preparing to deliver life-changing assistance to women living on the streets of Plymouth. The message is clear: together, we can help women shine and prevent them from fading away.

While Christmas is a time of joy for many, for women facing homelessness, abuse, and isolation, it can be the most challenging time of year.

Trevi's campaign aims to bring hope and safety to those in crisis during the festive season. The current housing and cost-of-living crisis in the UK has disproportionately affected women, with many of those experiencing homelessness having fled from domestic.

Violence and abuse are on the rise. Over the past decade, female homelessness has doubled, and rough sleeping among women has increased by 27 per cent. This exposes them to heightened risks of violence, exploitation, and substance misuse.

Tragically, many women living on the streets face unimaginable dangers. Hannah Shead, CEO at Trevi explains: “Women living on the streets in our city are at continuous risk of sexual exploitation and unthinkable violence, being kicked in the head whilst asleep, urinated on, having their possessions destroyed, stolen or set on fire. The work we do at Trevi is not just a lifeline; it's a declaration that every woman deserves safety, dignity, and support.

“During The Big Give, your donation can have double the impact. Together, we can restore hope and dignity to women in desperate need.”

Trevi is at the forefront of providing compassionate, trauma-informed support to women in need. The charity offers a range of essential services, including:

 Blossom Women’s House: Safe, women-only accommodation for those with complex needs.

 Sunflower Women’s Centre: Plymouth’s only women’s centre, fostering connection and hope for women in the community.

 Street Outreach: Directly meeting women on the streets, providing immediate support and signposting to services.

Last year alone, over 1,000 women and children benefited from Trevi’s services, with 90% describing the charity as a lifeline.

Double the Impact During Big Give Week

From December 3 to December 10, 2024, donations made through the Big Give platform will be matched pound-for-pound. Even small contributions can have a huge impact:

 £5 becomes £10, providing a woman with a hygiene kit, warm clothes, and a food pack.

 £25 becomes £50, supporting one-to-one outreach work to help a woman leave the streets.

 £150 becomes £300, funding an evening of outreach to support multiple women with food, clothing, and access to services.

Be part of the change.

Trevi is appealing to the community to help raise £40,000 to ensure that women in Plymouth have the opportunity to shine, even during their darkest times. Donations can be made through the Big Give platform: There's no place like home...at Christmas.

Trevi said: "Let's help women shine this Christmas. Together, we can make a life-changing difference."

You can donate here.

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