WHEN local business woman Emma Ranson Bellamy, called upon her customers Emma appealed for her shoppers to fill shoeboxes with beauty goodies to be distributed to vulnerable women in the South West and was astounded when, between her four stores, 90 filled boxes were donated.

After hearing about the charity Elle for Elle which collects and distributes the beauty boxes to women’s refuges across the North West of England, Emma contacted its volunteers to see if she could support women in need closer to home.

The charity offered to contact refuges in Devon, but Emma was shocked to find that many had closed due to lack of funding.

She said: “I then found out that CHAT (Church Housing Action Trust) support many vulnerable ladies and families around the Crediton area and this was a way of keeping the boxes local.

"I couldn’t believe the response, the ladies from my shops really pulled out all the stops, they got together in their work, schools and families.

"People pulled out their bathroom cabinets, and visited the shops with some lovely donations - Local businesses donated as well.

“Everyone was so generous, happy to donate - reaching out to women, without judgement and giving them a bit of luxury and offering them the gift of self care this Christmas.”

Emma had initially set customers at her boutiques in Budleigh, Crediton, Wellington and Tiverton the target of filling 40 boxes and was thrilled when donations hit more than 90 boxes.

She added: “I’ve been totally blown away by the amazing response from my customers.

"Elle for Elle is a voluntary organisation run by women in Cheshire.

"Their strap line is the ‘Empowered woman helping the disempowered’.

"The response from customers made me hugely proud to be part of this amazing network of women.”