Call for 'safe night' donations as Women's Refuge demand continues to track up

Tuesday, 21 December 2021

New Zealand actress Miranda Harcourt, left, and Women’s Refuge chief executive Dr Ang Jury are the faces of the Safe Night campaign.

After an award-winning campaign that saw close to 12,800 “safe nights” – a warm bed, food and clothing – funded to help at-risk women and children, Kiwis are being asked to add a night to their summer holiday.

A $20 donation allows Women’s Refuge to provide one safe night for women and children in need – 200 of which are used around the country every night. Included are hot meals, transport, support and advice.

During its campaign Safe-Night-A-Thon in August, 12,791 were donated in 10 days, exceeding the goal of 10,000.

Women’s Refuge has now launched its summer campaign, asking New Zealanders to add one more night to their holiday plan for someone in need.

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Women’s Refuge chief executive Dr Ang Jury said Covid-19 lockdowns had been incredibly tough for women and children in situations of domestic violence, and the essential workers who support them.

“We're not seeing hugely dramatic increases, but we are seeing increases … and we're seeing increasing complexity,” she said.

Difficulties with housing and finances were adding to the complexities, which were predicted to get worse with the Christmas period.

“What we are seeing is people that would have maybe before relied on their own resources who aren't quite as resourceful anymore.”

The agency isn’t making predictions about how the situation may evolve in 2022.

One prize won by a person who donated to Women’s Refuge’s Safe-Night-a-thon was a Facetime call by Benee, who sung them Happy Birthday. (File photo).

“We're putting one foot in front of it in front of the other and just doing the work that we've always done, basically,” Jury said.

Referrals to Women’s Refuge more than doubled from 24,000 to just under 60,000 between 2016 and 2020.

New Zealand actress and acting coach Miranda Harcourt, who is the face of the Safe Night initiative, said the response to the campaign was “completely unexpected”.

“A fresh wave of need occurs around this time,” she said.

“We’re all so excited to be emerging from lockdown and taking a break, but it’s also a time to think about others. That’s why we’re asking everyone to stretch their holiday by just one more night – for women and children who need it, and right now.”

During the August campaign, 11 people who donated won a range of experiences, including a mini-golf session with Dr Ashley Bloomfield, a search of their home for the paranormal by the stars of Wellington Paranormal, Happy Birthday sung to them by Benee, and a private home concert by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Jury said Women’s Refuge advocates had worked tirelessly throughout the year to keep the doors open and would continue to do so over the holidays.

Safe Night donations can be made at www.safenight.nz