Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London and Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Minister for Women today helped to collect toys and gifts for children staying in women’s refuges across London over Christmas.

The Mayor and the Secretary of State helped fill three London black cabs with toys donated by staff of the Greater London Authority and the Department of Communities and Local Government.

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London said:

‘Domestic violence is not only a crime that affects the victims of the perpetrator, it can also have a devastating affect on the whole family. This collection of toys is for the 3000 children in London who will be spending their Christmas away from home and in refuges across the city.

‘ I would like to thank the staff at City Hall for their continued generosity. For the last 5 years they have collected toys for children in refuges in London and this year they have outdone themselves.’

Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government said:

‘The Government is determined to do more to prevent victims of domestic violence victims being driven from their own homes as well as stepping up prosecutions of perpetrators.

‘I am very grateful to everyone who has donated toys to this appeal for children facing a Christmas away from home. Living in temporary accommodation can by its very nature be unsettling which is why government is committed to stepping up its work to help victims of domestic violence.’

Every Christmas for the last 5 years, staff at the Greater London Authority have donated toys to children at women’s refuges across the city. This year the staff of the Greater London Authority have been joined in their giving by staff at the Department of Communities and Local Government and T&G black cabs branch.

It is estimated that around 3000 children will be spending their Christmas in refuges across London this year.

Notes to Editors

1. There will be around 3000 children staying in refuges across London this Christmas

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