Who we support
Restoring dignity and confidence
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Restoring dignity and confidence *
Our Beneficiaries
The women we support come from many different backgrounds, each in extremely vulnerable positions and facing tough struggles. We either send our donations directly to individuals who have been referred to us or to organisations such as Women’s refuge centres. The refuge centres we donate to help to provide recovery and support for women who have been victims of addiction and domestic abuse, who are involved in sex work, and whom have been in contact with the criminal justice system. Many of these situations lead to homelessness and these ladies have little to no access to new clothes or underwear. Many women in these situations will prioritise immediate demands such as food or their children’s needs, hence the lack of funds for essentials such as underwear.
“Thank you so much, I feel so much better, having nothing is embarrassing at times and having to tell someone about having dirty or no underwear is degrading. Thank you for thinking about this and making me feel clean and so much better. It is so thoughtful and has made me feel human again.”
“Thank you so much, I have been wearing the same pair of boxer shorts for a month and this means that I don’t have to keep washing them everyday”
“I am so pleased with the present of underwear - it's not what people ever consider and i'm so grateful for your help, living on the streets is tough and something as basic as underwear is overlooked so thanks for making me feel good again.”
“I can’t believe it. Thank you, thank you so much. I am over the moon. I have been wearing bikini bottoms and getting old ones off my niece as I don’t have any clean ones as my washer is broke”
Restoring Dignity and Confidence
At Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist, our mission extends beyond just providing underwear; it’s about supporting and uplifting women who find themselves in the most challenging of life’s circumstances. The women we help are often in vulnerable situations, and our goal is to offer them not just material support but also a sense of dignity and empowerment. We all know how a new pair of knickers can make us feel… imagine that they are your only pair… or your first pair of clean ones in 30 years.
We aim to empower the beneficiaries of the new underwear, addressing their critical hygiene needs and providing the comfort and security that underwear brings. Different types of underwear can be empowering to different people, and specific occasions often call for various styles.
We aim to dismantle the myth that underwear donations have to be basic and boring and emphasise that those in need still hold their dignity and pride and that needs to be reflected within our donations. Many of those who identify as women will recognise their own desire of having the option of various styles of underwear, and women in need deserve the same choice.
The boost in self-worth and empowerment that a new pair of underwear can provide is well known, and we strive to offer that to all women, regardless of their circumstances. Clean underwear is a necessity and (re)introducing it to women who have lost that access is our main aim of empowerment.
This effort has been about more than just physical support; it has been a step towards restoring confidence and a sense of normalcy to those who have faced unimaginable challenges. By providing a variety of high-quality, attractive underwear, we aim to uplift and empower women, ensuring they feel confident and valued.
Addressing the Dilemma of Dignity
The predicament that many of these women face is one of dignity. Knickers are an intimate and personal item and asking for them in a time of need can feel humiliating. We aim to diminish this stigma. By stocking the drawers of women’s refuges, we aim to ensure that these essentials are readily available, eliminating the need for women to ask. We believe every woman should have the chance to feel both empowered in themselves as well as feel the physical security that underwear provides.
“Some families will present to us for safe accommodation with only the clothes that they are wearing. With this in mind, the donations that we have received from Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist have enabled us to mitigate negative experiences for families that we support. Making a decision to leave your current life behind to start a new life, free from abuse, can be a scary and daunting time. To have the added burden of lack of clothing, and underwear, can be too much for some to manage. The donations that we received gave us the ability to add underwear into the refuge units prior to a family arriving. This eliminates the sometimes embarrassing requests for underwear, from those suffering from financial impacts of living with abuse.
The donations are invaluable, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Serena for reaching out to Harbour Support Services initially, and again recently, to support the work that we do.” -Refuge Staff, Durham
“Many of our residents arrive at the refuge with very little in the way of personal possessions. We do keep a range of used clothing, pyjamas and coats etc in various ages and sizes so at least they have something to change into, however, we would never offer any women second-hand underwear. We feel this is very important, as the women fleeing domestic abuse and coming to us from their own home and surroundings, already often feel worthless and degraded and then for us to offer them someone else’s underwear, we feel is a step too far. The joy and relief on their faces when they see the underwear is new, is evidence that we are doing the right thing, and they always appreciate this small gesture. It’s always the small things in life that have the biggest impact, isn’t it?
As a small charity, we cannot express enough how much of a donation like this will help us to help our residents.” -Refuge Manager, Bishop Aukland
Your Impact
Your donations do more than just provide a clothing necessity; they help these ladies on their journey to regain empowerment and self-worth. The physical security and comfort that a new pair of knickers offer, alongside the increase in self esteem, can be the first step in a woman’s journey back to confidence and independence.
The amazing staff and our donations at Bridgewater Women’s Center
Join Our Cause
By donating to Let’s Get Our Knickers in a Twist, you are contributing to a movement that believes every woman deserves to feel confident, secure, and empowered, regardless of her circumstances. Your support can make a tangible difference in the lives of women who have faced unimaginable challenges. Donate now and be a part of their journey to reclaim their dignity and empowerment.
