West Mercia Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Centre: funding program
The funding has helped WMRASSC move its face to face services to online for both its adult and CYP (children and young people’s) support services. Up until the pandemic the majority of our support was undertaken face to face or by telephone. Online sessions were not part of our support package. However, lockdown changed all this and within a short period of time we were able to offer online support. The staff were quickly trained to use secure online platforms to meet their clients “face to face” in the virtual world. Staff were all relocated to home working and the funding helped to increase home equipment that was needed to enable safe remote working.
We have been able to continue to offer support to clients in the CYP services throughout both lockdowns due to transitioning our services to online platforms. Many of our clients were at home with their families and not able to attend school or any other activities for many months. This was hard for all young people but was especially challenging for those that were already struggling with their mental health and wellbeing as a result of sexual abuse.
Many young people have felt very isolated during this time as a result of not being in contact with school staff, friends and other support networks. We have been able to offer support to our clients using online options and this has been a lifeline for many. Several young people have been able to access the support they need where their home life is not always a happy one and it has been essential to have a safe space to explore feelings and behaviours and identify any concerns that needed dealing with.
We have maintained our usual level of contact with all our young clients and offered video or phone support while we were unable to see them face to face at school or at our offices. This has enabled our clients to have the continuity of support they needed during this difficult time.
Feedback from a number of our adult clients has been that without online support they would not have know who to turn to during periods of isolation. Several of our services users have said that it easier to talk online rather than face to face.
Feedback quotes:
- “Thank you for all your support and the work you do to support victims… I have appreciated your patience, positivity and professionalism. You have been a great support to me. Thank you!”
- “Thank you for all the wonderful support work you do, without a doubt you make a massive difference.”
