Volunteers respond to Inverness Women's Aid calls for help in Operation Love Your Refuge
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Walls were painted, cookers cleaned and grass strimmed during a busy day of action to give some love and attention to an Inverness refuge for women fleeing domestic abuse.
More than 70 volunteers responded to a call by Inverness Women's Aid (IWA) to join in Operation Love Your Refuge to help revitalise the accommodation which provides a safe space for women and children.
It follows a period of uncertainty for the 12-flat refuge after it emerged it was under threat of closure earlier this year.
Following discussions between Highland Council and IWA, it was agreed refuge and supported accommodation would continue.
- Operation Love Your Refuge launched by Inverness Women's Aid
- New manager appointed
- Fears for Highland women fleeing domestic abuse
- Refuge for women-fleeing to continue
With the refuge temporarily empty, IWA issued an appeal for help to clean, tidy and paint the building ready for women to be housed in a safe and welcoming environment later this month.
The organisation was delighted with the response from a broad range of volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in to a range of tasks, giving a total of 335 hours of time and effort on the day.
They included 24 volunteers from Lifescan while the rest were supportive of IWA in a range of capacities from friends and family, to other professionals and general volunteers.
The organisation also raised about £5000 in cash and donations of equipment, mainly from local businesses, and a grant of £2500 from Highland Council's ward discretionary budget
Newly-appointed manager of IWA, Lisa Buchanan, said that on the day all the flats had been cleaned, with the worst areas all getting one coat of paint.
As the squad of enthusiastic volunteers inside the building were busy at work, a team outside tidied up the garden, painted fences, cut the grass and weeded paths.
In addition, 18 mattresses and eight divans were replaced as well as three sofas, crockery and cutlery.
Ms Buchanan, who took up her role in August, was thrilled with the response.
"After just a short time in post and with the support of the whole team, it was a pleasure to welcome so many dedicated volunteers ready to make the refuge a place where anyone would want to sleep," she said.
"It is important for us to create a safe, comfortable and pleasant environment for women and children to land at what is often one of the worst times of their lives.
"To have been joined by such a squad of volunteers has had a transformational effect on the refuge.
"I was especially delighted at how many said they’d like to come back and finish the jobs they started.
"We’re grateful to everyone who helped behind the scenes and on the day."
Nikki Perrin, who chairs IWA said: "It was a heart-warming day to see so many new and familiar faces helping us to put some much-needed attention back into the refuge.
"I was especially impressed by the young people, who attended with their families, because they wanted to help other people in difficult circumstances.
"We are grateful to all our local business sponsors and volunteers for helping us to make it happen."
