A Sheffield pub has launched a Christmas campaign encouraging customers to donate presents to women and families who are escaping violence over the festive period..
In conjunction with Women’s Aid, The Fairway Inn have decorated their ‘gift-giving’ tree with tags that can be taken by regulars and swapped for presents.
Pub landlady and general manager, Jeanette Levick, 52, of Birley, said: “This is our little gift – Christmas can be a great time of year for most people, but it can make those in refuge feel even more isolated, especially when they have children and pets, but little money to make Christmas special.”
To protect the women and children who are being supported by the charity, the tags, which each represent a person in the refuge, only have the gender and age range of the recipient .
Claire Smith, 35, operations manager, for Marston’s who own The Fairway, said: “The lady who we’re working with from Women’s Aid has just been so overwhelmed that we’ve even thought about doing this – she didn’t even believe us at first and now can’t thank us enough.”
The gifts will be delivered to the charity at undisclosed location to protect anyone who accesses their services.
Ms Smith said: “I know what it’s like to feel alone and it’s just so unfair to think that people are spending Christmas away from family and friends.
“It can be such an isolating time of the year for so many people, especially with the football on which can fuel domestic violence, so we just wanted to give something back.”
The pub isn’t new to fundraising and has helped multiple charities from the Andy Man’s Club to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, which has had its end of life unit for children shut down.
The family-orientated pub encourages their customers to come forward if they feel unsafe and actively run the Ask For Angela initiative, where people can approach bar staff and say the name Angela to get out of scary situations.
Ms Levick said: “We don’t just serve and supply alcohol, I feel like it’s also our responsibility to make sure everyone gets home safe as we are a welcoming space for families, so I hope by running this scheme, we can raise more awareness for women’s safety.
“Our customers really do get engaged in everything we do and all our staff have been amazing.”
There are still a few tags left on the tree and staff are urging people to donate gifts of any value before the deadline on 20 December. To donate, visit or contact The Fairway Facebook page.
