Warwick-based charity adapting to continue to help people during lockdown

A Warwick-based charity has adapted how it works so that it can continue to help people during the lockdown.

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.

This includes closing premises in Warwick and Stratford to the public but also providing alternative ways to get in touch.

Last week Safeline issued a statement about how it was working and have now issued a more up-to-date statement about what the charity is doing.

Neil Henderson, CEO of Safeline, said: "Safeline has been designated a key support organisation by the Government in relation to COVID-19.

"To keep our clients, our staff and volunteers safe, and to help stem the spread of the virus, Safeline followed Government guidelines and made the very difficult decision to close its premises in Warwick and Stratford on March 24 to the general public.

"Safeline is a client led organisation and over the last few weeks it has worked extremely hard to ensure minimum disruption to its services and we are proud to say that the majority of our services continues to operate as normal.

"Because our premises have closed, people can no longer access face to face support, however, Safeline’s clinical team have consulted with every face to face client and we are now offering a temporary telephone counselling service which enables individuals to access support during this very difficult situation.

"We are pleased to say that approximately 45 per cent of all existing clients have chosen to use the service.

"The service is safe, secure, confidential and free.

"The counsellors who provide the service, are all fully trained and they all have the appropriate working environment to be able to work safely, securely and confidentially from their home.

"They also all 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 continue supporting large numbers of vulnerable children, aged 10-18 year’s using skype and telephone.

"Experts who deal with vulnerable children all believe the risk to children and young people has increased significantly as a result of schools closing down, so the fact that Safeline’s Early Intervention coordinators are still able to provide effective, tailored support to some of the most vulnerable children in our community, during a period of heightened risk, comes as an immense relief to the children and everyone else involved in keeping them safe.

"Over the last few weeks increasing numbers of children are being referred to Safeline by schools, counsellors and the multi-agency safeguarding hub.

"A full assessment is completed with parents and students prior to sessions commencing.

"To operate both of these services, safely, securely and ethically, we need to urgently invest in additional equipment for our team to ensure that Warwickshire survivors and the most vulnerable children in our community receive the support that they need.

"Any help and support you can give to enable us to do that would be gratefully received. "

To find out more or to donate to the charity go to: https://www.safeline.org.uk/