Campaign highlights reality of festive season for women in abusive relationships.

Dundee Women’s Aid has launched a Christmas campaign to raise £2,500 for supporting victims of domestic abuse.

The charity’s Just Because it’s Christmas campaign highlights the reality that abuse, violence and coercive control against women and children does not stop just because it’s the festive season.

In a series of hard-hitting social media posts, the charity hopes to raise awareness that for many women Christmas can be a very distressing time of year.

The campaign also urges friends and relatives to be aware of possible signs of abuse, from facial bruising to more subtle signs such as withdrawal from friends, families and activities.

Mary Miller, the charity’s CEO, said that in many cases suffering only increases for victims of domestic abuse over the festive period because of the added pressure to carry on as if they are in a normal family environment.

She added: “One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that women in such situations should ‘just leave’. Unfortunately, it is usually much more complex than this and the main reason abused partners don’t leave is overwhelming fear, for their own safety and that of their children.

“Our Just Because it’s Christmas campaign aims to support women and children in refuge this Christmas and we ask the people of Dundee to unite and pledge their support in raising awareness to end violence, abuse and coercive control against women and children.

“We are extremely grateful to receive donations towards our fundraising target of £2,500 and we have already been overwhelmed by the generosity of someone who anonymously donated £500 on the first day of the campaign.”

Donations can be made to the appeal online via the charity’s goldengiving page.