ALTON Music Box has dropped the final curtain and held its last fundraising event.

The team has supported the East Hampshire refuge for 10 years by holding events twice a year. It is an evening of music, poetry and readings where everyone plays their part and contributes.

Organiser Luath Grant Ferguson bases each evening on a theme, making it fun for all who attend. In December, Alton Music Box raised £500 for the Southern Domestic Abuse Service.

Mr Grant Ferguson said: “The Alton Music Box has been a faithful supporter of the East Hampshire refuge for 10 years and we are incredibly grateful to have received £3,700 since we took over running the service in 2011.

“At Christmas, we wanted to ensure that the women, children and young people using our services were supported to have a safe and happy Christmas. This support has been invaluable. Domestic abuse can affect people of any age, gender, race, sexuality, wealth and geography, every day of the year.

“Domestic abuse does not take time off at Christmas and for thousands of families who are living in the grip of violence it is a day like any other.”

In expressing thanks to the Alton Music Box team, Claire Chatwin, chief executive of the Southern Domestic Abuse Service, said: “Christmas is traditionally a joyful time when families come together to celebrate, but for victims of domestic abuse it can be the worst time of the year. Christmas can be a difficult time for victims of domestic abuse as the pressures of financial difficulties and of spending long periods of time with an abusive partner can create greater anxiety and stress.

“It is often not only adults who suffer due to violent partners during this time. For children living in a home where there is violence, Christmas is not a time of celebration but one of terror, as the family is together for an extended period of time.

“Most children living in violent households witness the violence that is occurring and in 90 per cent of cases they are in the same or the next room. In about half of all domestic violence situations, the children are also being directly abused themselves.”

Southern Domestic Abuse Service is a charity which provides refuge accommodation and outreach services for women, children and men who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse.

To find out more about the work of Southern Domestic Abuse Service, visit southerndas.org or e-mail [email protected].