I would like to personally thank all those who donated to our appeal in the last week. So far we have raised a fantastic £1,833.67 to support vulnerable women, children and families. We are so grateful for your generosity towards those most in need. If you have not yet donated, please consider giving today to help us continue this vital work.
We would like to update you on some of the new support measures we are putting in place to support those who rely on our community projects.
To ensure that we meet the needs of the women we support through Alana House, we are offering one-to-one telephone support with our trained team of support workers to those most in need. We are also introducing virtual drop-in sessions three times a week. These will help to continue the important routine that Alana House would normally provide for service users, and will create space for them to talk through any concerns and stay connected to the essential support network that Alana House provides.
We are finding ways to continue to provide resources and advice that span the range of classes and sessions we would normally offer at Alana House. We are sharing important information about paying bills, reducing household costs and applying for universal credit to try and help service users stay on top of their financial situations. We are urging all of our service users to seek help immediately if they are experiencing domestic abuse or feel at risk in their home.
We are also regularly posting updates about ways they can stay active and take care of their mental health during this time to continue the spirit of our Love Me Love Life programme. We are sharing exercise ideas, fun things to do at home or with kids and positive messages of support and encouragement to ensure that no one feels alone or left behind at this time.
For our Bounce Back 4 Kids service users, we are offering one-to-one phone consultations with our experienced Domestic Abuse Senior Support Worker to those who request it. We are setting up an online group so that we can stream virtual support sessions, answer concerns and create a sense of community for the families we help. In addition to these new measures, we are providing BB4K families with a weekly newsletter giving advice and encouragement about how to stay positive and take care of themselves and their children during the coronavirus pandemic.
We want to continue to be there for those who rely on our help. We need to keep adapting and expanding our services as new challenges arise. If you have not already donated to our appeal, please consider donating today to allow us to continue to be there for our most vulnerable service users.
We need your support now more than ever. You can donate now here. Prefer to donate by text? Text CRISISHELP and the amount you would like to donate to 70085: for example, texting CRISISHELP 10 will donate £10.
My thanks once again to all those who have contributed to our appeal.
Jan Fishwick OBE
Chief Executive – PACT
