Members of the Cumbernauld congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a long standing partnership with the Monkland Women's Aid, a charity that serves women, children and young people to overcome the trauma of domestic abuse.
Chirstine Buckle volunteers as the congregation’s main liaison with the young women (age 12-18) and runs weekly activities with the girls. Christine initially worked with the Monkland Women's Aid as part of her work supporting vulnerable children - including those affected by domestic abuse. When she retired she joined the charity's Board of Directors, where she has served for the last 5 years.
Through Christine’s contacts, over the past three years, the church’s women’s organization (called The Relief Society) has collected and donated a range of hand towels as these get quickly used! The Relief Society has created “Welcome Packs” of toiletries and other essential items (and a bar or box of chocolates!) for those women who had fled their homes with little or no possessions.
On a few occasions over the past few years, including recently, a group of men from the church painted accommodation that was looking very tired or grubby.
Monkland Women's Aid provides refuge support and outreach services. The outreach service offers distanced support to women, children and young people who have or are suffering from domestic abuse.