IDAS, the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting anyone experiencing or affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence, has launched ‘Set a place at the table for IDAS this Christmas’ to raise much-needed funds for their services, to support people to escape violence and abuse over the festive period.

This year, IDAS have supported more than 10,000 people in the community and dealt with more than 22,000 helpline calls.

Their services include providing refuge accommodation, community-based support, peer mentoring, group work and access to a free, confidential out of hours’ helpline. The IDAS Team support people through the criminal justice system in addition to providing emotional support and safety planning advice.

The current campaign is aimed at individuals and businesses asking them to gift the value of setting a place at the dinner table, whether at the office party or family Christmas. And to think about those escaping domestic abuse who might be spending Christmas in an IDAS refuge this year.

CEO, Sarah Hill said

“We are asking people and the business community to donate to our Christmas campaign so that we can keep supporting people subjected to abuse and violence, to rebuild their self-esteem and support children who have been impacted to recover from their experience.

This has been a year of extraordinary challenges and the impact of COVID on those living with abusers has been extreme, with victims having had less access to their normal support networks, friends, or family members.

For IDAS this meant an unprecedented demand for our support. Our helplines were the busiest they have ever been. The move out of lockdown will mean that many are able to seek support and we anticipate an increase in demand for our services for some time to come. We rely on donations to keep this vital source of income.”

To learn more about IDAS, or to make a donation to their Christmas Appeal, visit www.idas.org.uk/donate

You can also request more information by completing a simple online form.