Warwick charity appealing for help so they can continue to help others

A Warwick-based charity is appealing for donations so that they can continue to help others.

Safeline, which helps and supports those affected by sexual abuse and rape, is having to change how it works due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Neil Henderson, Safeline CEO, said: "Safeline is a designated key support organisation and therefore continues to operate during the current lockdown.

"However, coronavirus is having a critical and profound impact on survivors of sexual abuse being able to access the support that they need.

"Fear of infection led to clients cancelling more than 150 per cent of appointments in one week.

"Because of this, Safeline has reluctantly closed down its face-to-face counselling and creative therapy services in order to protect its clients and its staff.

"The situation is devastating for our clients, who are extremely vulnerable and many of whom have mental health problems which will be exacerbated by the additional stresses of self-isolation, economic insecurity, restricted movement and lack of community or social support."

To help them continue their work the team at Safeline is appealing for donations to help buy equipement for additional counsellors.

Neil added: "Safeline’s counsellors have consulted our clients and agreed that the solution is a temporary telephone counselling service which enables us to continue to support them with added counselling capacity to accept new referrals to Safeline counselling.

"To do this we need to invest in equipment for the additional counsellors (telephone/laptops etc.)

"This service will be provided by fully trained counsellors with appropriate conditions to be able to work confidentially from their home. They will follow Safeline’s Safeguarding procedures and receive clinical supervision.

"Additionally, with schools closing, Safeline’s Early Intervention team, who help prevent the exploitation of children, have had agreement from project funders to adapt their delivery systems to provide support to vulnerable children, aged 10-18 year’s using Skype and telephone.

"These children are survivors of sexual abuse, rape or child sexual exploitation or are at severe risk of it happening.

"They are referred to Safeline by schools, counsellors and the multi-agency safeguarding hub. This means they continue to receive individual tailored mentoring support during a period when there is heightened risk because of school closures.

"A full assessment is completed with parents and students prior to sessions commencing and these sessions are already in progress.

"Investment in equipment for our team is now a priority to ensure that Warwickshire survivors and the most vulnerable children in our community receive the support that they need. "

To donate £10 by phone text: SAFELINE to 70490.

Or to donate online via Virgin Money Giving at: www.bit.ly/Safeline25