BARNSLEY College’s handbag appeal will open once again next month in memory of a young girl who was murdered while travelling in New Zealand.
The Love Grace handbag appeal was set up in memory of 21-year-old Grace Millane who was killed in 2018 – it combines the young woman’s love of handbags and ending violence towards women.
Martyn Hollingsworth, the college’s catering curriculum leader, started a campaign with head of learning for living and work, Nicola Thomson-Dewey, as his niece was friends with Grace at university.
It sees them collect donations of ladies’ handbags filled with toiletries and essential items which are donated to help those most in need at the IDAS women’s refuge.
Sue Tomlinson, an IDAS support worker, said: “It’s fantastic that Barnsley College is taking part in the initiative and supporting the campaign.
“The women are thrilled at how lovely the bags are and can be quite taken aback, they see inside and they can get quite tearful that someone put such thought into a gift.
“All the useful and personal items that mean so much more to a woman who has not had anyone think of her for a long time.
“The bags Barnsley College and the community have donated will go a long way towards making a difference.
“Thank you to everyone involved.”
You can donate the bags and items off at The Open Kitchen or Crumbs Cafe at the Old Mill Lane campus from January 4, between 8.30am and 2.30pm.
