The best ideas are always the simplest and that applies as much to good causes as anything else. When I heard about Give and Make Up this weekend, I was so impressed that I promised its founder, beauty industry expert, Caroline Hirons, that I would give it a big, fat plug on 60 going on16.
It all started with a post on her own blog, Beauty Mouth, about essentials . . . which got her thinking about what you do when you have no money, which in turn led her - via Twitter - to Refuge's website. (Refuge is the UK's leading UK national charity working on behalf of women and children who experience domestic violence.)
'Refuge has a list of the kind of things you should try to grab before you leave a domestic violence situation,' explained Caroline. 'Passport and banking details were at the top and then it said "toiletries" and I just had an instantaneous "ah-ha" moment. I work in the beauty industry, get lots of products and I knew I could get other people involved.'
Which is exactly what she did and that is how Give and Make Up came to be in October 2010 - and you and I can help. Give and Make Up welcomes donations of everyday essentials, such as shampoo and deodorant; skincare; make-up; tools, such as hairdryers; and baby products (full list here). Top of the most-wanted list are at-home hair dye kits, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products and anything baby related. Everything that Give and Make Up receives then goes to women and children in Refuge centres, at present in South and East London, the South East coast, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Give and Make Up has already attracted the backing of lookfantastic.com and BeautyBay.com, as well as private supporters, and I'm sure it will grow and grow.
Everything you need to know is on the website and, if you're quick off the mark, BeautyBay will cover the cost of postage of your donations until 1 March and you'll get a 10% discount to use at BeautyBay - bargain!
So here's an idea that I'm suggesting to all my kind and caring UK readers: next time you're off to Boots or Superdrug - or Selfridges or Harrods or Harvey Nichols (why not?) - take your Give and Make Up list, snap up all the 3 for the price of 2 and BOGOF (buy one, get one free) offers and donate all your freebies. It's so simple, so easy and your donations will make a huge difference to a women who have had the courage to walk away from violence. And, believe me, it does take an enormous amount of courage to walk away from your home with nothing or next to nothing.
According to Refuge, one woman in every four in this country is abused during her lifetime; every year, one in nine is severely physically abused and two women are killed each week. Domestic violence occurs at every level, in every sector, of our society, in every community. Despite this, services for victims of domestic violence - services that actually save lives - are now facing massive cuts. My own county, Devon, is proposing a 100 per cent cut in funding; yes, that's right - a total and absolute cut in funding. Some of you may have seen tonight's report on Channel 4 News about what is likely to happen across the country.
But, while politicians at national and local level pull the safety net from beneath vulnerable women and children, we can still do something easy and practical to help them. So, let's just do it.
In case you're wondering, I 'met' Caroline just a couple of days ago on Twitter, after I tweeted about last week's breast cancer report. Before we knew it she was giving me sound advice on kohl and the mature woman . . . and then we found ourselves in total agreement about those puerile specimens, the Top Gear presenters. And look where we are now; Twitter's like that.
Before I forget, do take a look at Caroline's blog; there is nothing this woman doesn't know about skincare. And don't miss the fabulous black and white photos of Caroline's wonderfully glamorous mother and grandmother behind their 1960s Coty beauty counters. So nostalgic - and they remind me of my lovely mum, who always managed to look stunning on a shoestring and was very partial to Coty's Chypre and L'Aimant . . .
What a great idea, D. I'll give it a plug on RD.
Posted by: Maureen | February 07, 2011 at 11:04 PM
What a great post and a wonderful easy to accomplish 'pay it forward' idea with the bogo and 1 free w/2 and donating the freebies! I will have to see if there is something like this in the USA.
Posted by: Teri and the cats of Curlz and Swirlz | March 08, 2011 at 05:42 PM