Special fund launched to help our community services during crisis

A spokesman said: “Throughout the Covid-19 restrictions, we want to reassure the public, and our existing clients, that we will continue to provide our services, but initially they may look and feel different.

“Our Community Service is often the first point of contact with Victim Support NI, as we help people to cope with the immediate impact of crime through practical and emotional support. Staff and volunteers are continuing to provide that much needed support but these are via telephone appointments only.

“If you have a general enquiry, we encourage you to use our online chat facility on our website. As all courts are now closed to the general public, including victims and witnesses, our Witness Service offices are also closed.

“Our staff in these offices have been in contact with those whose cases have been adjourned to explain the new situation, and how it will affect their case. We will also be contacting those individuals whose cases completed in the last few weeks to check in on how they are doing, If anyone is due to attend court in the coming months and has any queries, they can still contact us via our Witness Service telephone numbers or online via our website.

“We know that a delay in court cases can case distress to victims and witnesses. If you would like to talk to someone about how you are feeling, please do get in touch.

“We have a number of advocacy services which also continue to operate. Our ISVAs (Independent Sexual Violence Advocates) and ChISVAs (Child Independent Sexual Violence Advocates) have moved to providing support via telephone only, as has our Hate Crime Advocate.

“Similarly, we are still providing support to assist those who wish to apply for Criminal Injuries Compensation, or who have queries about their existing application, but please note that all Compensation Appeals have also been suspended for now.

“Our ART project, which provides therapy to children and young people who have impacted by aggression related trauma, including physical, sexual or emotional abuse in the Northern Trust area, continues to operate via online and telephone contact.

“If you have been a victim or witness of crime, you can continue to contact us.

“Our phone lines do remain open but may be busy so if your query is not urgent then we would ask that you consider email first.

“We would like to thank our staff and volunteers for continuing to work hard to support victims and witnesses throughout this unsettling and unprecedented time.

“They have moved quickly to readjust to a new way of working and we are confident that all victims and witnesses will be supported to the best of our ability in the coming weeks and months.”

Belfast Hub: Tel: 02871 243133; Email: [email protected]

Foyle Hub: Tel: 02871370086; Email: [email protected]