Our patron, Avon is supporting some of the most vulnerable people across the UK with a financial donation for women and children in refuges and wellbeing products for NHS staff.
For 130 years Avon has stood for women: providing innovative, quality beauty products, which are primarily sold to women, through women. Millions of independent Representatives across the world sell iconic Avon brands such as Avon Color and ANEW through their social networks, building their own beauty businesses on a full- or part-time basis. Avon supports women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship and well-being and has donated over $1 billion to women’s causes through Avon and the Avon Foundation.
1.6 million women experienced domestic abuse last year, and self-isolation has the potential to aggravate pre-existing abusive behaviours by perpetrators – Avon is helping to keep front line services open.
In response to the growing demand for more readily available hygiene products, Avon is switching some of its manufacturing lines to create a new moisturising hand gel and anticipates 600,000 units to be available across April. A proportion of the products will be ring-fenced for NHS staff and domestic abuse service users and staff. As a gesture of thanks to its Representatives that are supporting their communities, Avon will gift every Representative free hand gel to help keep them and their family safe.
With sales from the hand gel, Avon is donating £150k to national domestic abuse charity Refuge. Avon has a long-standing commitment to help end violence against women and girls and during these unprecedented times Avon is helping to keep front line services open.
Sandra Horley, CBE, chief executive of Refuge says: “Refuge is extremely grateful to Avon for its longstanding support – and in particular its recent unexpected donation of £150,000. This will make a huge difference to our services; helping to keep our doors open, whilst providing additional support to our expert team who are now having to run our national services from home environments. This continues to be a time of great challenge. However, Refuge’s services have remained open and we continue to support thousands of women up and down the country experiencing domestic abuse. If you know anyone experiencing domestic abuse and it is safe for them to contact Refuge, please urge them to contact our 24-hour Helpline or access our online resources. During this period of social distancing and increased isolation we want women to know that they are not alone, and that Refuge is there to support them in confidence.”
As a thanks to the brilliant NHS working tirelessly during this crisis, over the next few weeks Avon is providing thousands of wellbeing packs for staff at two of its HQ’s local hospitals in Northampton and Kettering. The care packages will contain essential toiletries and wellbeing items with a drop of hand gel once it’s available.
Ahead of the latest lockdown, Representatives up and down the country were living up to their community roles by helping the most vulnerable where they live. From picking up prescriptions and shopping to checking in on neighbours, so many are sharing their stories of giving back.
“Community is and always has been at the very heart of Avon. At a time of crisis, we must come together and do all that we can to support those that need it most. From the fantastic staff within the NHS to our charity partner Refuge, we are determined to do all that we can to help keep our community safe and well,” says Matthieu Comard, General Manager Avon UK.
Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 run by Refuge or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
