Donate to help create safe comfortable spaces for children staying at Women’s Refuges.

More than 50 percent of Women’s Refuge clients are children. They are the innocent victims of domestic violence and abuse and deserve a better future.

That’s why this year, New Zealand Sculpture OnShore is asking for your help to raise $100,000 for Women’s Refuge – so that they can create comforting and creative spaces for children staying in their 40 safe houses. This brand-new, child-led project is called Kids in the Middle.

NZ Sculpture OnShore is Women’s Refuge’s biggest fundraising event, donating more than $2.1M since it began 25 years ago. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, organisers were forced to cancel this year’s exhibition at its well-known venue of O Peretu Fort Takapuna. Despite this, they are determined to raise funds for Kids in the Middle and need your help to make it happen!

Kids in the Middle was designed following a first of its kind research report into what children need to feel safe and secure after experiencing family violence. Women’s Refuge family violence specialists talked to children who had stayed at safe houses and asked them what could be done to improve refuge services for kids in the future.

The children said they need fun, cosy, warm, interactive, relaxing, safe spaces to share with other children. For children, these items and spaces mean access to security, happiness and belonging. Items that were highly sought after included pillows, cushions of differing sizes and shapes, throws, blankets, shaggy rugs, colourful mats, curtains, different lighting options (night lights, fairy lights, lamps, free standing lights), comfortable child sized chairs and couches, snug beanbags, tactile and sensory toys for relaxation, and items that can be used by multiple children at once.

There can be few things more important than helping our tamariki feel safe and secure after experiencing trauma.

Please donate generously to Kids in the Middle today, and help children fleeing domestic violence feel comfortable and secure when they enter Women’s Refuges safe houses.