Hundreds of food hampers to be donated to women and children's refuges in Milton Keynes and beyond

The Bedfordshire-based children’s charity, KidsOut, has partnered with the Diwali Basket Brigade (DBB) to provide food hampers to women’s refuges in Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Luton, and Aylesbury on Saturday (November 7), a week before Diwali celebrations.

KidsOut has nominated families to receive hampers who have survived domestic violence and are most in need of support.

A KidsOut spokesperson said: "Life can often be tough for families in refuge, with this year harder than usual because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Most families arrive at refuge with only the clothes on their back, with mothers often struggling to provide the basic essentials."

Sandra Doherty, from KidsOut, explained how it is more important than ever that struggling women and children receive these food hampers.

She said: “We are so excited to be teaming up with the DBB for a third year running. Lockdown restrictions have seen a sharp rise in domestic violence, with the children and mothers we help often fleeing to refuge with little means to support themselves.

"These food hampers will relieve some of the immediate pressures facing mothers in refuge, showing that there is still kindness in these challenging times.”

The special Diwali baskets are funded by donations from across the community. They include healthy vegetarian food, a Diwali ‘Diya’ candlelight and, this year, helpful hygiene products including masks and hand gels.

DBB founder Deepak Parekh said: “Diwali is a time of celebration and happiness. But unfortunately, there are many families in our local communities who have little to cheer about, who struggle to make ends meet and feel rejected.

"DBB is our small effort to support and spread the message of Diwali - the message of hope, happiness and giving.”

A DBB spokesperson said the initiative was made possible thanks to the 'generous and kind' donations from mebers of the public, which saw more than £20,000 raised.

The 200 hampers delivered by KidsOut are part of a broader initiative that will see 2,000 hampers distributed to families in London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

Members of the public are invited to help with donations and take part in KidsOut’s Giving Tree - the charity’s annual Christmas toy appeal - to make sure every child in refuge receives a box of brand-new toys the Christmas.

For more information, visit https://www.kidsout.org.uk/giving-tree/