The idea
Establish a Witney satellite hub providing free, vital services to survivors of sexual violence in West Oxfordshire.
Enabling survivors to receive specialised face-to-face support and counselling in their own local community without needing to travel to Oxford/Banbury, making support more accessible.
Survivors face many barriers in accessing support, by removing travel barriers in rural West we aim to extend our reach and accessibility, especially to seldom heard groups, and those who face multiple inequalities.
Demand for support is increasing, we’re currently supporting 45 survivors in West Ox with a further 40 on the waiting list. The hub will help meet the need for specialist counselling.
After establishing satellite hubs in Didcot/Banbury we found the number of people accessing support significantly increased in the area.
To bring this project to life, we require funding/resources to secure suitable spaces, recruit/train additional counsellors, and ensure effective management.
What we'll deliver
- Provide free specialist 1-1 face-to-face counselling in Witney
- Supporting up to 100 survivors in West Oxfordshire in their local community
- Recruit and train a counsellor to deliver trauma-informed counselling
- Establish a base in Witney where survivors can have face-to-face support
Why it's a great idea
-Improve wellbeing of survivors of sexual violence and reduce isolation
- Foster community resilience by offering free localised trauma-informed support tailored to the needs of survivors in West Oxfordshire.
- The initiative will promote inclusivity and accessibility by delivering support to marginalised and seldom-heard survivors, who often experience additional access barriers, reducing inequalities in accessing essential support.
- Enhance early intervention by providing services closer to home, potentially reducing long-term trauma and associated societal costs.
- Raising awareness in the local community about sexual violence, the importance of specialised, trauma-informed support.
- By recruiting and training additional counsellors, the project will boost local employment and build professional expertise within the area.
- A hub in Witney will reduce environmental impact by minimising travel requirements for survivors and staff, aligning with sustainability goals.
Steps to get it done
- Recruit a new specialist trauma informed counsellor to be based in Witney
- Set up a hub in Witney
- Network with organisations in the community to raise awareness
- Market and promote the hub so that survivors know where to go for support, when they need it
