A WI group is giving abused women a boost by donating 90 Easter eggs to a women's refuge.
The Brentwood Belles, the most recently formed Women's Institute in Brentwood, made up of 115 women aged 25-75 from the local community, all pitched in to help Basildon Women's Aid, a charity that provides a safe haven for women and their children who have been victims of physical, mental or sexual violence.
Jane Miles, 38, lives in Doddinghurst and has been president of the Belles since they started 18 months ago.
"This is a cause that is close to many of the ladies' hearts," she said.
"Many of the women who turn up at the refuge come with children and only have what they're standing in, so we want to make the occasion special for them and give their Easter a little bit of normality."
The chocolate eggs were donated at the February and March monthly meetings.
Speaking of the group's achievement, Mrs Miles said: "I'm really proud of them, it's an amazing achievement – being part of the Women's Institute is about helping and supporting the local community and this is one of the ways that we do it.
Elaine Arnold, services manager at Basildon Women's Aid said: "It is welcomed by the staff as it means that we can help the women and children here to celebrate Easter.
"The Brentwood Belles in the community may never meet the women and children here, but it means so much to the residents that they care.
"It's fantastic that we have enough eggs to give out to all the children. All round it's just a fantastic donation – we're very pleased they've done that for us."
The Women's Aid, which currently has 28 families and a total of 61 people, provides a living space for families with a communal kitchen, garden and play area for the children.
It provides a self-esteem club to allow families to settle in, along with a pre-and-after school club and support for women who do not feel able to leave home through centres in Brentwood, Castle Point and Rochford.
