Giving to Gilgal

You may be surprised to learn that the government covers less than 20% of our running costs.

This is referred to as “statutory funding” and is used to cover our “core” costs such as; our building, essential staff such as our CEO, finance, and marketing team; and utilities like water, electricity, and gas.

All the additional services we provide, including support workers, activities for the women and children at the refuge, and trips to increase the range of life experiences for our residents, are completely funded by the generosity of our donors.

All the money donated to Gilgal goes to the wellbeing of the women and children in our refuge.

Whether through qualified staff to support them through counselling sessions, or helping them find individuals who can offer legal and financial help.

We want the women in our refuge to enjoy their time with us, and donations allow us to do this! With your support, we can run activities like painting and wellbeing sessions, as well as take the residents out for trips, which add a spark of normalcy and excitement to their time in our refuge.

Your money also goes towards the running costs of the charity and the upkeep of the building.

Our refuge has been a lifeline for many residents who have felt safe for the first time in years, and you can help to be a part of this! Currently, we’re only able to accept around 30% of referrals – but we’re growing. With plans to expand our capacity while maintaining the quality of our support, we’re working towards helping even more women and children on their journey to safety and recovery.

Thank you.

Gilgal Birmingham would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated to our cause. Every contribution, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated.

Your generous support has helped us cover college fees, provide essential food parcels, and keep the refuge running during these challenging financial times.

Supporting a small charity like Gilgal is unique and each donation has a significant impact and goes a long way.

Thank you for standing with us and helping us make a real difference in the lives of women and children in need.

Three women stand outdoors holding a large check made out to "Gilgal Birmingham" for £750. The lady in the middle is Sanja, Gilgal's previous CEO, and the other two women are from Beauty for Ashes. — Beauty for Ashes donating their fundraised money

Some of our recent donors

Donations of items

Donations of items to our women and children are greatly welcomed and encouraged

Several large bags are filled with winter clothing items, including a puffer jacket, gloves, and blankets.

Personal items

Toiletries such as shower items, dental hygiene, and feminine hygiene products are of great support to our residents. We also accept donations of women’s and children’s clothes and accessories.

Boxes of Easter eggs - Kit Kat Chunky and Smarties - are packed into a large bag.

Food

We love to accept donations of food, whether it’s seasonal treats or everyday essentials.

When donating food, please consider donating harder to find or more expensive dietary items such as gluten-free breads and pasta, dairy-free milk, butter and yoghurts, vegan products, and items which are kosher or halal.

If you’re unsure what to buy, shopping vouchers are a great options.

A child sits on the floor tearing the wrapping paper from a Lego set.

Toys and games

All children should feel special on their birthday! We ensure that every child who has a birthday while they are with us receives a party, with food, presents, cakes, and games.

The wider a variety of presents we have available, the better we are able to give each child a gift that is meaningful to them.

A collection of books stacked and scattered on a table, including cookbooks, novels, and non-fiction.

Household items

We also ask for items which will help the residents of our refuge start over when they leave us. For example cooking equipment, like pots, pans, cutlery and recipe books can ease the stress of the first few days in a new space. We accept blankets and soft furnishings like cushions, bedding and rugs, as well as decorative bits for their new home, or their current space in our refuge. These little accessories can help make a house feel like a home, and can make a huge difference for our residents.

Nothing you donate goes to waste; if we cannot use something ourselves, we will pass it on to someone who needs it. For example, if we are given a very large bag of rice with an upcoming expiry date, we will share it between our residents and then pass the rest onto a partner organisation.

The Gilgal Charity Shop

We have recently opened a Charity Shop, with all the money raised going to support those in our refuge. It provides a way for us to sell donations we have no immediate use for at the refuge – giving preloved items a new life and helping to reduce landfill.

This Charity Shop is a new income stream for us, meaning that we can become increasingly financially secure and continue to provide high quality support for those in our refuge.

Additionally, the Shop helps us raise awareness of domestic abuse in the community, meaning more women will have access to the support they deserve.