Newcastle's Women's Street Watch, a volunteer group that helps women get home safely after nights out, is urgently seeking a new vehicle after its van, affectionately named Wilma, failed its MOT and was written off due to extensive rust.
Group's Work at Risk
The group, which patrols the Bigg Market on busy weekends, uses the van as a base to charge phones, hand out water, snacks, flip-flops, and blankets in colder months. Without a reliable vehicle, the service is at risk.
A Facebook post from the group stated: "It's with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our beloved van. We took her for her MOT, hoping for the best… but the rust was just too deep, and she's not salvageable." The post added: "She never got that pass, but she gave us everything she had. Now we need your help to find a new ride so we can keep doing what we do."
Fundraising Goal Increased
Originally, a GoFundMe page aimed to raise £1,800 to fund the organisation for a year. However, with the loss of Wilma, the goal has been increased to £4,000 to cover the cost of a new vehicle, registration, and making it roadworthy. The group noted: "We don't need fancy - just something solid, safe and ready to keep moving."
As of the latest update, the fundraiser has reached approximately 60% of its new target. The group encourages donations via GoFundMe or sharing the post to increase visibility.
Community Support
The GoFundMe page explains that the group patrols "from the base of their van Wilma, every Friday and Saturday 10pm-2am, offering a safe presence and practical help such as water, snacks, flip flops and phone charging." The post concludes: "Every donation brings us one step closer to getting back on the road. Thank you all so much – we couldn't do this without you."
