Over £10,000 worth of toiletries and skincare products were donated during a campaign for domestic abuse victims run by a Carlisle business.

VL Aesthetics’ Regifting Beauty initiative sees people donating their unwanted beauty products and toiletries so they can be given to survivors of domestic abuse.

This year was the first time that the scheme joined forces with Cumbria Constabulary and its officers dealing with domestic abuse, in a bid to ‘help return some sense of normalcy to victims’ lives’.

Offences involving domestic abuse rose from 506 in November 2023, to 541 in December 2023 – a rise of almost seven per cent in the run up to Christmas.

The campaign was first launched in 2020 and this year’s scheme has been the most successful yet, with about £10,000 worth of make-up and beauty products donated.

News and Star: VL Aesthetics Regifting Beauty campaign - members of Cumbria Police and Freedom Project meet at VL Aesthetics in Carlisle to redistribute the donated beauty products. // (l-r) Vanessa Brown, Managing Director, VL Aesthetics; Vicky Pike, Charity Manager, Freedom Project. Tuesday 12th March 2024.VL Aesthetics Regifting Beauty campaign - members of Cumbria Police and Freedom Project meet at VL Aesthetics in Carlisle to redistribute the donated beauty products. // (l-r) Vanessa Brown, Managing Director, VL Aesthetics; Vicky Pike, Charity Manager, Freedom Project. Tuesday 12th March 2024. (Image: Harry Atkinson)

These will now to be shared between The Freedom Project West Cumbria, which supports between 280 and 300 female victims of domestic abuse a year, and women’s centres that are supported by Cumbria Constabulary, including Carlisle Gateway for Women, Women Out West and Barrow Women’s Community Matters.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Belshaw, lead officer in Cumbria for the issue of violence against women and girls, said: “The response within the police force itself to this campaign was overwhelming, with our own officers and staff donating hundreds of items.

“I’d like to thank everyone who generously gave something.

“These items will hopefully offer some comfort to people who have gone through – or are going through – a terrible time in their lives.”

Vicky Pike, manager of The Freedom Project West Cumbria, said: “We are always so grateful to be involved with the scheme.

“If people could see our clients using the products and taking them away, it’s really uplifting to watch and see the difference it is making to women.

“We are grateful every year because it means this is a little extra service that we can provide.”

“Some counsellors take clients to help them choose,” Vicky explained.

“When it comes to make-up and presentation, some women haven’t been allowed to wear make-up or choose their own clothes for some time and it’s scary when given that choice again.”

One service user said: “It helped me feel supported and cared for.

“It was lovely to be able to use these products as part of my self care – something I haven’t done before.

“I don’t think people understand what this means to us.”

VL Aesthetics clinic owner Vanessa Brown said: “Regifting Beauty 2024 has surpassed all expectations in its fourth year, marking our most successful campaign to date.

“We collected more than 50 overflowing boxes, and an estimated £10,000 worth of skincare, body items, and toiletries generously donated by the wonderful people of Cumbria.

“We are truly overwhelmed and we can’t quite believe it.

“A special thank you to The Body Shop for their incredible contributions, attributing to four collections, and to Tesco and Morrisons for their overflowing trolley of donations.”

Vanessa added: “We also extend our gratitude to the businesses who continue to support us with collection boxes since we launched the Regifting Beauty campaign in 2019 - Velvet 7, Luna Amatores, and Bookends—your unwavering support makes all the difference.”