I designed a crochet rainbow wall hanging in April 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. In the United Kingdom, the first few weeks of lockdown saw calls to the National a Domestic Abuse helpline (run by Refuge) increase by 49% and killings doubled.

This is where the idea of ‘Rainbows for Refuge’ was born. Rather than releasing the rainbow wall hanging as a paid pattern, I decided to keep it free and instead set up this page so that people downloading my pattern could choose to make a donation if they were able to. You can find a copy of the pattern here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbows-for-refuge-wall-hanging

One woman in four will experience domestic violence at some point in her lifetime and two women are killed each week in England and Wales by a current or former partner. Refuge supports around 6,000 women & children on any given day, experiencing domestic and sexual violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, stalking, trafficking, prostitution & so-called ‘honour’ based violence.

By donating today, you are helping to save and change the lives of thousands of women and children escaping domestic violence.Thank you for your support.