Facebook Linkedin Instagram Tiktok
Search
Exit site

Campaign Type: Fundraising

Double Your Donation Today

Abuse Can Change Everything in an Instant.
Your Support Can Change Everything After That.

From 6th October until 12pm on 13th October, every donation to First Light’s Crisis Fund will be doubled through the Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund.

That means your gift could have twice the impact for women and girls affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

When Everything Changes Overnight

Abuse can turn someone’s world upside down in a moment.

Someone fleeing domestic abuse may leave there home with nothing but the clothes she is wearing. A survivor of sexual violence may find that essential belongings, including clothing or a mobile phone, are taken as part of a police investigation. Others may struggle to afford the travel costs needed to reach counselling, medical appointments, support services or court hearings.

At a time when everything feels uncertain, practical support can make all the difference.

Every day, First Light supports people through our Domestic Abuse Services, Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services and specialist therapy programmes. While statutory funding helps us deliver these vital services, it does not always cover the emergency items survivors need during a crisis.

That’s why our Crisis Fund exists.

👉 Donate today: https://donate.biggive.org/donate/a05WS00000FcBEjYAN

Providing Support When No Other Funding Is Available

The Crisis Fund helps us respond to urgent needs that can become barriers to safety, recovery and independence.

Donations help provide practical support such as:

  • Emergency transport to a place of safety
  • Temporary accommodation during a crisis
  • Clothing, toiletries and essential care packs
  • Mobile phones, SIM cards and emergency phone credit
  • Travel costs to therapy, counselling, medical appointments and court hearings
  • Emergency financial support when no other funding is available

They are often the practical lifelines that help someone stay safe, access support and take the next step towards recovery.

👉 Donate today: https://donate.biggive.org/donate/a05WS00000FcBEjYAN

Small Things That Make a Big Difference

For someone in crisis, a train ticket to a counselling appointment can mean they continue receiving support.

A mobile phone can help them stay connected to an ISVA or support worker.

Emergency clothing and toiletries can provide dignity after an incredibly difficult experience.

The Crisis Fund helps remove practical barriers that survivors should never have to face alone.

Make Twice the Difference

For one week only, every donation made through the Women and Girls Match Fund will be doubled.

  • £25 becomes £50
  • £50 becomes £100
  • £100 becomes £200

Your donation will help ensure that when survivors need support most, help is available.

👉 Donate today: https://donate.biggive.org/donate/a05WS00000FcBEjYAN

Thank You

We are incredibly grateful to Big Give and the Women and Girls Match Fund for making this campaign possible.

Their support means every donation made before 12pm on 13th October will be matched pound for pound, helping us reach and support even more women and girls affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

We would also like to thank everyone who chooses to donate.

Your generosity helps provide the practical support that statutory funding cannot always cover. Because of supporters like you, survivors can access essential items, attend vital appointments, remain connected to specialist services and continue their journey towards safety and recovery.

Together, we can be there during some of the most challenging moments in a person’s life.

Help Us Be There When It Matters Most

Match funding is available for a limited time, but the need for support continues every day.

If you can, please donate before 12pm on 13th October and make your gift go twice as far.

Every donation matters. Every pound helps. Every gift will be doubled.

👉 Donate today: https://donate.biggive.org/donate/a05WS00000FcBEjYAN

Abuse can change everything in an instant. Your support can change everything after that.

First Light accepted into the Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund

First Light is delighted to have been accepted into this year’s Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund, giving supporters the chance to help us raise vital funds for local Survivor Crisis Funds.

Why this matters

Through the campaign, we aim to raise £7,000 in donations. Every eligible donation will then be matched through The Big Give, helping us reach a total of £14,000 for local Survivor Crisis Funds across the counties we work in.

The campaign will run from 12pm on 6th October to 12pm on 13th October, giving supporters one week to donate and have their eligible donation matched through The Big Give.

The funds will provide practical, immediate support for people affected by sexual violence, domestic abuse and church-related abuse, helping First Light respond to urgent needs that traditional funding often cannot cover.

For many people, the barriers to safety and recovery are practical as well as emotional. A lack of phone credit, money for transport, food, clothing or personal safety items can prevent someone from accessing support, attending appointments or taking important steps towards safety.

The Crisis Funds will help provide:

  • Personal safety devices and alarms
  • Emergency travel costs
  • Mobile phone credit and data
  • Food and essential household items
  • Clothing and toiletries
  • Emergency accommodation-related costs
  • Other urgent practical support tailored to an individual’s circumstances

These are often relatively small costs, but they can have a significant impact on someone’s ability to access support, increase their safety and move forward with their recovery.

 

How your support can help

By supporting this campaign, donors can help create flexible local funds that First Light staff can use quickly and safely when someone faces an urgent practical challenge.

Our ambition is to build support for a Crisis Fund in each county we work in, ensuring that people can receive practical help at the point they need it most.

The Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund is a powerful opportunity to make every donation go further and increase the support available to people who rely on First Light’s services.

This year’s campaign builds on First Light’s previous Big Give activity, while taking a wider approach across the counties we work in.

Previous Big Give campaigns helped raise £10,000 for Cornwall Domestic Abuse Service and just over £3,000 for services in Swindon and Wiltshire.

This year, our goal is to raise £7,000 in donations, which will be doubled by The Big Give to create a total of £14,000.

We know from our work every day that practical support can make the difference between someone remaining in crisis and someone being able to take the next step towards safety and recovery.

More details about the campaign and how to donate will be shared soon. Please look out for updates ahead of 6 October and help us spread the word when the campaign goes live.

 

Looking ahead: upcoming campaigns and projects

Supporting students during Freshers’ season

Throughout September, First Light will be attending Freshers’ events across the counties we work in, sharing information and resources with students. We will also be exploring opportunities to support student-led Students Against Abuse societies and networks over the next 12 months.

Domestic Abuse Awareness Month: It Didn’t Start Like This

Launching in October, First Light’s Domestic Abuse Awareness Month campaign, It Didn’t Start Like This, will focus on helping people recognise the early signs of abuse and understand how harmful behaviours can escalate over time. We will be inviting communities, organisations and supporters to get involved and help spread the message.

Reclaim the Net: 16 Days of Action

First Light’s 16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women and Girls campaign will focus on online abuse this year. Through events, awareness raising and a 16-day digital protest, the campaign will explore the experiences of women and girls online and advocate for safer digital spaces.

The Big Give: Break the Barriers

This year, we’re aiming to raise £10,000 to create an emergency fund for survivors of sexual violence across Swindon & Wiltshire. This fund will provide essentials like clothing, toiletries, travel costs, phones, SIM cards, and care packs, removing financial barriers and helping survivors begin their recovery with dignity and safety.

Last year, your donations supported families affected by domestic abuse across Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, helping them flee unsafe homes, access emergency devices, and even provide Christmas presents for children. It was a lifeline for many. This year, we want to do the same for those impacted by sexual violence.

 

What is The Big Give?

From 8th to 15th October, every £1 you donate will be doubled through The Big Give. That means your gift will go twice as far in supporting survivors.

 

Why Your Support Matters

Sexual violence can change lives in an instant. The journey to healing is often long, complex, and deeply personal. Survivors face not only emotional and physical trauma, but also practical and financial barriers that can make it harder to seek help, report the crime, or feel safe again.

 

Your donation helps us break down those barriers.

  • Transport costs can be the difference between someone reaching our Sexual Assault Referral Centre or staying isolated. A simple taxi fare can mean safety, access to medical care, and the chance to speak to someone who understands.
  • Clothing and toiletries offer dignity after an assault. When someone has to surrender their clothes as evidence, being able to change into something clean and comfortable is the first step toward reclaiming control.
  • Phones and SIM cards allow survivors to stay connected to loved ones, access support services, and feel less alone. For those who’ve had to leave work or home, this connection is a lifeline.
  • Safety devices and alarms help restore a sense of security. After experiencing violence, feeling safe again is essential to recovery.
  • Support during police reporting and court proceedings can make a difficult experience more bearable. Stress balls, fidget spinners, and other calming tools help ease anxiety. We also offer emotional and practical support and can cover travel costs for court dates.

These are not luxuries. They are essentials. And they are often the things that can’t be funded by traditional funding.

Last year, your generosity helped families fleeing domestic abuse. This year, we’re asking you to help survivors of sexual violence, to give them the tools, resources, and compassion they need to begin healing.

 

Double Your Impact between 8th to 15th October

Your donation helps break down the barriers that prevent survivors from seeking help. And through The Big Give, your support goes even further.

Please help us Break the Barriers. Help us support those affected by sexual violence and abuse.

How to Send Us Your Fundraising Money

Make a Difference

The money you raise helps us support thousands of adults and children to live safer lives and rediscover hope. By paying in your donations, you’re making a real and lasting difference.

By Post

If you’re sending a cheque, please make it payable to ‘First Light’ and post it to:

First Light
The Business Centre
2 Cattedown Road
Plymouth
PL4 0EG

Please include a note with your name and details of your fundraising so we can link your donation correctly.

By Bank Transfer

To arrange a bank transfer, please email us at hello@firstlight.org.uk and we’ll provide you with our bank details.

Make sure to include a clear reference with your transfer so we can identify your fundraising contribution.

How to set up your First Light Just Giving page

Whatever you choose to do to raise money, JustGiving is a trusted platform used by charities around the world. It’s a simple and secure way to manage your donations and sponsorship.

Follow these quick steps to set up your fundraising page and start collecting donations from family, friends, and colleagues:

  1. Visit justgiving.com/firstlight and click Start fundraising to begin.
  2. Log in to your JustGiving account, or create one if you’re new to the platform.
  3. Choose your fundraising type — whether you’re taking part in an event, celebrating an occasion, fundraising in memory, or doing your own thing.
  4. If your event isn’t listed, select Add your own and tell us a bit more about your plans.
  5. Pick your page link — this is the web address you’ll share with supporters.
  6. When asked about receiving donations in return for goods or services:
    • Tick Yes if you’re selling tickets, running a raffle, or auctioning items (note: these donations won’t be eligible for Gift Aid).
    • Tick No for all other types of fundraising.
  7. When asked if your charity is contributing to the cost of your fundraising:
    • Tick No, unless First Light have agreed to subsidising your event in anyway.
  8. Click Create your page — and you’re ready to go!

 

Did You Know?

You can add offline donations to your JustGiving total. Just go to Edit your page, then click Edit next to Raised offline in the Donations made to your page section, and enter the amount.

 

Ways to Boost Your Donations

Here are a few tips to help maximise your impact:

  • Tell your story: Share why you’re fundraising for First Light and what it means to you. A personal story can inspire more donations.
  • Share your page: Use email and social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) to spread the word.
  • Add photos: Fundraisers who include images raise 14% more on average. JustGiving will also prompt you to post updates — a great way to show your progress.
  • Set a target: It motivates you and shows supporters how close you are to reaching your goal.

 

Need Help?

If you’d like support setting up your page, or if you already have a JustGiving page and would like us to share it, please fill in the form below, we’ll be happy to help and promote your fundraising.

For any questions or support with your fundraising activity, get in touch with us using the form below.

Cornwall Man Vs Coast 2025

Saturday 5th July 2025

This trail adventure is a breathtaking 25 mile route taking in high cliffs, brooding moorland, picture-perfect beaches, crashing waves, big swells, rough-hewn rocks, water jumps, short swims and a few cheeky surprises.

With a stunning start-line at St Michael’s Mount, the route will weave its way coast to coast from one side of the Cornish peninsula to the other, taking in a course that is exciting beyond belief. This is one for the adventurer who wants to make a weekend of it.

To find out more about the event and register your place, click here.

Once you’ve registered, you can then get going with your fundraising! To find out how to set up your First Light JustGiving fundraising page, click here.

We are aiming to raise £10,000 to set up a Crisis Fund for Women & Girls Fleeing Domestic Abuse

This year we are aiming to raise £10,000 to set up a Crisis Fund for Women & Girls Fleeing Domestic Abuse (£5,000 in online donations, which will then be matched by The Big Give).

Domestic abuse will affect 1 in 3 women during their lifetime and First Light is seeing a huge increase in high-risk families who are coming to us for support during extremely challenging moments of their lives.

The campaign week runs from 12pm, Thursday 10th October – 12pm, Thursday 17th October and thanks to The Big Give, any online donations made to First Light during that week will be doubled – so whatever amount you are able to give will be worth twice as much.

The money raised from this year’s match fund campaign will allow us to set up a Crisis Fund. The Crisis Fund will enable us to provide women and their families with equipment to keep them safe, such as mobile phones, letterbox locks, and camera doorbells; help support them with moving costs; and provide them with clothing and other items when they’ve had to leave their home with nothing.

Having immediate funding available for people fleeing domestic abuse is so important…

  • Being able to provide toiletries, travel, food and clothing will keep a person or family safe.
  • Providing a mobile phone will mean that an individual fleeing their abuser will be able to do so without the worry of being tracked or harassed by phone calls and text messages.
  • By providing a train ticket/taxi fare to those who do not have their own transport means that individuals can flee more easily.

Any online donations made to First Light during the seven days of the campaign  will be doubled. If you would like to support our work this year, we strongly recommend doing so during this campaign week, when your donation will be doubled and make even more of a difference to us.

One donation, twice the impact.

Please visit our dedicated Big Give page to find out about how you, your business or your community can help support this year’s fundraising campaign. And keep an eye out for more information to follow in the run up to the campaign itself.

 

The Big Give Women & Girls Match Fund campaign

The Big Give Women and Girls Match Fund is a 7 day match funding campaign working with charities like ourselves who are dedicated to serving the women and girls in our communities.

Last year’s campaign titled, Sexual violence: You’re Not Alone, was a huge success, raising an incredible £5,000 in one week to help support women & girls affected by sexual violence. Thanks to everyone who donated, the Big Give has meant that we have been able to provide 19 women and girls with sexual violence counselling, each receiving a course of 6 free therapy sessions.

One of our clients, Issy, is a 19-year-old girl who was referred to our Plymouth Sexual Violence Counselling Service. I’ll let Issy tell you herself how the support of the Big Give campaign has made such an incredible difference to her and “changed her life”.

This year we are aiming to raise £10,000 to set up a Crisis Fund for Women & Girls Fleeing Domestic Abuse (£5,000 in online donations, which will then be matched by The Big Give).

 

Please visit our dedicated Big Give page to find out about how you, your business or your community can help support this year’s fundraising campaign. And keep an eye out for more information to follow in the run up to the campaign itself.

The Big Give Match Funding Campaign

Time left to DOUBLE your donation to the Crisis Fund for Women and Girls Fleeing Domestic Abuse

Days
Hours
Minutes

The Big Give Women & Girls Match Funding Campaign

We are aiming to raise £10,000 to set up a Crisis Fund for women and girls fleeing domestic abuse, and we need your help.

Violence against women and girls has continued to rise over the past year, yet only 1.8% of UK grants from Trusts & Foundations are directed towards this cause. Domestic abuse will affect 1 in 3 women during their lifetime. More women than ever before are reaching out to First Light after experiencing domestic abuse. We support high-risk families during their most challenging moments. In 2022, 20% of children in the UK lived with an adult displaying abusive behaviours.

The funds raised from this match funding campaign will allow us to set up a Crisis Fund for women and girls fleeing domestic abuse. This will enable them to leave abusive relationships by providing travel costs, clothing, electrical goods, and moving costs. It will help support women and girls to feel safe and empowered, providing shelter, food, and clothing for themselves and any children they may have fled with.

What’s the Big Give?

The Big Give is a match funding campaign, which means they will match any money we raise within one week in October. Imagine if your donation could have double the impact. That’s exactly why the Big Give exists – to double your donation. The Big Give brings together larger donors, like philanthropists, foundations, and businesses, with the giving public and the charities who need them.

During the October campaign week (from 12pm Thursday 10th October – 12pm Thursday 17th October), any online donations made to First Light via our website will be doubled. So £10 becomes £20, and £50 becomes £100.

We aim to raise £10,000 in just one week to set up a Crisis Fund for women and girls fleeing domestic abuse. To achieve this, we need to raise £5,000 in online donations, which will then be matched by the Big Give.

Last Year’s Success

Thanks to your incredible generosity, The Big Give was a huge success last year, raising £5,000 to support women and girls affected by sexual violence. Since the campaign ended in October, we have supported 2,516 women and girls across all our sexual violence services. These include our Devon & Cornwall, and Swindon & Wiltshire Independent Sexual Violence Advisory (ISVA) Services, our Swindon & Wiltshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), our Sexual Violence Counselling, and our Recovery Pathways programme.

Funding from The Big Give has enabled us to provide sexual violence counselling to 19 women and girls. Each course of 6 free therapy sessions costs £270. We’ve had 317 women and girls attend our Plymouth Sexual Violence Counselling Service since October, highlighting the importance of funding like this and the difference it makes in the number of people we’re able to help.

Fundraising Packs

Issy, a 19-year-old girl, was referred to our Plymouth Sexual Violence Counselling Service. Here’s how your support has made an incredible difference in her life: “It changed my life.”

How You Can Get Involved with The Big Give 2024

There are three main ways you can support this year’s fundraising campaign:

  1. Host a Fundraising Event: Help raise money and make a donation to the campaign. To assist with your fundraising ideas, we’ve put together a fundraising pack to help you plan and advertise your event.
  2. Make an Online Donation: You can donate to our Crisis Fund for women and girls fleeing domestic abuse anytime between 12pm, Thursday 10th October, and 12pm,  Thursday 17th October 2024.
  3. Share Our Campaign: Share any of our campaign social media posts across your networks, and with your family, friends, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All money raised from your fundraising will need to be paid to us as an online donation by yourself via our donate page between 12pm 10th October – 12pm 17th October.

Plymouth Run Fundraiser Smashes Target, Raising Over £3,500 For First Light

First Light is delighted to announce the resounding success of the recent Plymouth Run fundraising event, held on Sunday 28th April. A total of 13 dedicated runners, including First Light staff, service users, and teams from our charity partners, took on the challenge of the Half Marathon, 5k, and 10k races, all coming together for a common cause.

Despite the challenge of the course and the unpredictable April weather, the runners showed unwavering commitment, spurred on by the knowledge that their efforts were making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. Their dedication paid off as they surpassed their fundraising target, collectively raising an impressive total of £3,640 (so far!).

Anna Mitchell, First Light’s Fundraising Officer, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support: “The response to the Plymouth Run has been amazing! The enthusiasm and generosity of our runners, supporters, and the local community have been truly inspiring. A huge congratulations and thank you to all those who took part. Every donation will enable us to continue providing essential support services to those affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.”

Among the participants were individuals with personal connections to the cause, including service users who have benefited firsthand from First Light’s support. Reflecting on her experience, one of the runners shared: “I ran the Plymouth Half Marathon to raise money for First Light as they helped me through the toughest time of my life; I am so grateful that because of them, I finally feel control over my own body and am able to run and raise money for such an incredible cause.

I’m feeling very, very proud and super pleased with myself as when I started in January, I could only just do a 5k.”

Other participants included teams from Venton Ltd and The Lost Gardens of Heligan, who are First Lights Charity of The Year partners for 2024.

Sophie Turton, Conference Centre Manager at Venton Ltd said: “Having the opportunity to take part in the event was a fantastic opportunity for the team at Venton. Not only have we been able to raise vital funds for the charity as part of our Charity of the Year Partnership, but the sense of achievement having completed (and ran) the whole 5K course was fantastic. The atmosphere was incredible, and we couldn’t have asked for more support from the First Light team to cheer us on.”

Rebecca Miles, Head of Marketing at The Lost Gardens of Heligan said: “I was delighted to support First Light, Heligan’s chosen charity, at the Plymouth Half Marathon this weekend. It’s a fantastic – albeit challenging – event and I’m so proud the Heligan team have raised awareness and vital funds of over £1,680 for such an important local charity.”

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance (opens in a new tab)

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.