Everyday help for women in crisis

OLDHAM Family Crisis Group is on a mission to collect everyday essentials to help women fleeing domestic violence.

The group has teamed up with Oldham Soroptimists and local libraries to collect toiletries, clothing and cleaning products to make up packs for victims who leave their home with nothing.

The group’s co-ordinator, Jenny Taylor, said the donations are distributed among the three residential sites.

She said: “The link with the soroptimists is fabulous, it is great in two different ways.

“Lots of women coming to our residential programme have nothing, they don’t have the most basic things, like soap.

“We give them a welcome pack with new toiletries and small luxuries.

“But we also use the collections to reach out to people, and Oldham libraries collect the goods for us, so this is getting the word out — and means we are talking to people about domestic abuse.”

Now the link with Oldham Soroptimists has led to another collection of starter packs for women moving into new homes, after leaving supported housing.

Jenny added: “Usually they start with a very small Social Fund payment, but the starter packs contain a washing-up bowl with things like basic essentials, such as a scrubbing brush, scourer, dust pan and brush, which can cost a lot when buying from scratch.”

This year marks the 75th anniversary of soroptimism, which means “best of sisters”, and the Oldham club’s president, Eunice Garside, is also celebrating being a member for 50 years.

This week visitors to Uppermill Library were able to donate items as well as find out more about all three organisations.