I regard this as  a delightful story of how a small idea to give new underwear and toiletries to women in refuges providing shelter from domestic abuse played out into a network of women who want to do more… and more.

It happened because someone mentioned to me that these are things abused women sheltering in desperation and fear, very rarely get. It seemed a simple thing to try to provide some of these and especially as Christmas was coming up. I set up a collection and put it out on our local  website as well as alerting friends and neighbours. The response was fantastic. So many people arrived on my doorstep with wonderful bags of packets of new knickers, all kinds of toiletries for washing and looking after the body.

Tallulah a lingerie shop in my street in Islington, brought a bag full of truly luxurious goods. When everything was put together, we ended up with three hampers full which were then delivered to the impressive Solace organisation in Islington London,a hub where they look after 19 refuges . Every woman was able to be given a gift for Christmas which felt good, and one wrote a letter so moving it reduced many of us to damp eyes. She said she never imagined anyone would think her worth such a gift and that in the past when she had been told she “deserved it”, the occasion was a beating.

It seems to me  an inspiring demonstration of how we can put life, energy and pleasure into being neighbours and doing good for less fortunate neighbours.  As well as this the initiative has spawned a new network of local peoplein our North London area.

This was the initiative of  Dee , a  powerhouse of a woman, who has made Knickers Gals a thriving reality. She was one of a few donors who met up with me to deliver their donations, at a local cafe, and that was the beginning. Conversation was animated, laughter wall- shaking and along with that came the idea that this impromptu meeting up should materialise into something sustainable. So Dee suggested this could be the start of something new – and Knickers Gals! came into being. Dee along with Debby took on organising , sending out messages suggesting meetings, visits to the theatre, a coffee get together and so on, answering queries, and initiating conversations . We also have a group proposing things we can do to contribute to society, to put a bit of good out into the world.

 

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