Member Article

Local Charity in Crowdfunding Appeal

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland launch an appeal today as they are forced to find new premises in the city centre for the second time in four years.

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland, a Newcastle based charity providing support to women and girls who have experienced sexual violence are desperately seeking city centre new premises for the second time in four years.

The charity supported over 700 women last year through face to face counselling, non-therapeutic support and through an email and telephone helpline managed entirely by specially trained volunteers.

Now, the charity are searching for a new city centre base having been given notice by their landlords and are hoping to raise £6,500 to install a soundproofed, safe space in which women and girls can receive counselling and practical and emotional support in Newcastle City Centre.

“We are getting closer to securing new premises,” commented Co-CEO Sue Pearce, “but the space will need to be modified to meet the needs of the charity and the women we support. It is vital that the women and girls who come to us for counselling feel safe in the space and can talk freely without fear of being overheard.”

“Moving premises is a huge undertaking for us, trying to balance the ongoing needs of our clients - ensuring they can continue to receive support during the move for example. Not only that, we have to move a team of around 16 employees, 40 volunteers and nearly 40 years of history!”

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland is asking the public to get behind their campaign to raise £6,500.

The money will be used specifically to build a soundproofed counselling rooms with any additional funds being used to provide counselling in the charity’s outreach bases in: Alnwick, Berwick, Blyth, Cramlington, Gateshead, Hexham, Morpeth, Newcastle West End, South Shields and Whitley Bay.

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland is one of the oldest Rape Crisis centres in the country, and have been operating in Newcastle for almost 40 years.

Find out more and donate: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/rctn/safespaces

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland. www.rctn.org.uk
Evening Helpline: 0800 035 2794 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (6pm-8.30pm) Friday daytime (11.00am-2.30pm) Friday daytime (11.00am-2.30pm)

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nicky Mckeen .