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Mayo Rape Crisis
Centre.
Annual Report
2004
MISSION STATEMENT.
The
Mayo Rape Crisis Centre aims to provide a safe, confidential and anonymous
space for women who have experienced any form of sexual violence recently or
in the past. The Centre is a space where survivors of rape and/or sexual
abuse/assault can talk and be heard. The basic philosophy is informed by the
values of Equality, Empowerment and Inclusiveness. In supporting survivors
we provide practical information and resource additional supports. We are
also very pro-active in encouraging children’s rights; facilitating women
with children and seeing that all forms of abuse are recognised and
responded to.
Mayo Rape Crisis Centre
The
Mayo Rape Crisis Centre provides services to any woman, sixteen years or
over, who has experienced sexual abuse, incest, sexual assault, or rape at
any time, in her life, recently or in the past. Men will be referred to
other resources, as the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre is a woman only space at
present.
Services:
¨Provide immediate crisis counselling
¨Offer anonymous phone hotline to counsel and answer questions
¨Counsel on a short-term or long-term basis, face-to-face, by telephone, or
by correspondence.
¨Accompany clients to medical exams
¨Accompany clients through the legal process from the statement through
criminal proceedings¨Do
research and advocacy for clients.
¨See friends, partners, and family of clients for one time counseling
session
¨Network with other agencies and Rape Crisis Centres
¨Offer support including home visits when necessary
¨Provide a gentle and supportive atmosphere for clients
How to reach the Centre:
¨Free Phone: 1800 234 900
¨Phone (with answering machine): 094 25657
¨Business phone and fax: 094 27188
¨Email:
mayorcc@eircom.net
Statistics 2004.
Total New Contacts:59.
·
Adult Survivors of Incest and Child Sexual Abuse 20.5%
This statistic divided up into 40% incest and 60% csa approximately.
·
Rape and Sexual Assualt.32%
This statistic divided up into 10% of the total Rape and Sexual assault were
suspected drug assisted rape and 36% were rapes involving more than one
perpetrator.
·
Rape within Intimate Relationships.4%
·
Female Genital Mutilation.
4%
·
Sexual Harrassment.2%
·
Physical Abuse
4%
·
Support and Information.15%
This statistic reflects those who contacted the service looking for help,
information or because they were supporting a survivor of sexual violence.
I.e. a parent whose child has been sexually abused and is looking for advice
with regard to services for the victim.
·
Unknown.25%
This category reflects those clients who make contact with the service but
who do not reveal the identity of the perpetrator or who do not have access
to specific information relating to the abuse.
·
Refugee/Asylum Seekers.10%
Sources of Referral.
·
Self-55%
·
Family 8.5
·
Social Work Dept. 8.5%
·
Friend 6%
·
Support Workers(i.e.
mwss, counsellor, hostel worker etc)
6%
·
Doctor 2%
·
Of the Total of new contacts for 2004 40% engaged with the service
for counselling and support appointments.
·
At the end of 2004. The service was engaged with 45 in total clients
for counselling and support.
·
Of the total of 2004 new contacts 25% reported to the Gardai and made
statements of complaints.
·
This year there were 2 court cases heard where the service provided
support.
·
1
resulted in a satisfactory sentence for the perpetrator.
·
1
resulted in a “not guilty” finding as instructed by the judge (the judge
having no legal other choice) because due to illness the victim could not
attend the court. This was after three previous adjournments due to no judge
being available.
Comments on the statistics.
There are several very noticeable changes in 2004 worthy of note:
·
In 2003 there were over 90 new contacts so this year it is back to the more
usual level of on average over one new contact a week. In the ten years of
the service it has always been around 50 new contacts a year.
·
There was a marked decrease in the number of contacts from adult survivors
of childhood abuse. This is possibly due to the presence of the Adult
Counselling Service. In previous years it has always been between 40% and
60% of the total.
·
The increase in the rape and sexual assault were noticeable not from the
viewpoint of numbers but from the fact that many more women were making
complaints to the Gardai. In previous years it has been anything from 2% to
10% this year an unprecedented 25% of the new contacts had made contact with
the Gardai. This is a very new and welcome development. The client who is
making a complaint to the Gardai requires different support initially to the
client coming in for counselling. This is a big improvement on previous
years and reflects both clients awareness of their rights but also suggests
that the efforts of the Gardai in particular to make it easier for a
complainant are really beginning to take effect. Whilst it is still very
hard for anyone to report a sexual crime- the presence of some very
sensitive and aware Gardai is making a difference.
·
25% whilst this statistic reflects the small but significant number of
clients who have to struggle with little or no classic memory of abuse it
also reflects the big number of clients who contact the service who cannot
bring themselves to speak about what has happened to them.
·
The rape and sexual assault victims including the refugee and asylum seeking
clients increased the number of clients we were dealing with who were
presenting with very active Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome symptoms. This
required a much more active response from the service initially.
·
Our 2004 statistics will for the first time feed into a national database of
statistics for Rape Crisis Centres. This will not only give more accurate
information with regard to sexual violence it will help us to anticipate
trends and also to compare and assess our services with other RCC’S. The
database will be the Rape Crisis Network Ireland database and will be
launched in April 2005.
Report on 2004.
Another busy year for the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre in 2004 with several new
demands on the service and several new trends noted in previous years making
themselves apparent. The centre operated as previously with three full
time workers and two volunteers. In November due to parental leave this was
reduced to two full time workers with three people managing the two posts.
Helpline.
This service is one of the parts of the service that is constantly
compromised when ever there is a demand on the other parts of the service
such as administration. It is a vital point of connection for most clients
and as well as making appointments it is often a touch point that helps many
of our clients get through the bad times. For a significant number of
clients also the helpline is their only form of contact and they continue to
rely on that service for any contact with regard to their experiences. Not
having a regular helpline also affects access to the service. There is a 24
hour national helpline available with up to date information courtesy of
Dublin RCC. We continue to endeavour to have as little disruption to the
helpline as possible with our aim this year 2004 was approximately 2 hours a
day on weekdays. This was reasonably maintained throughout most of 2004.
Counselling Service.
This continues to be the heart of the service with approximately between 25
-40 appointments weekly. One to One Counselling is set up after an initial
assessment appointment. The demand for counselling meant that at the end of
2004 we had a small waiting list for our counselling service. There were
some appointments outside of the centre, mostly this happened when someone
cannot get into the centre for a variety of reasons. Presently there are
outreach counselling appointments as and when needed. The one area that
continues to be of concern with regard to counselling would be that of the
young women who need to use the service. There is a very predictable fall
off in their continued use of the service. We are considering ways to make
this easier for them – to provide some more efficient ways in which they can
deal with the trauma of sexual violence without the prospect of long term
counselling- One of the problems appears to be that because they may rely on
others to bring them to their appointments – their attendance is dependant
on someone else and this can be difficult. We are presently looking at a
short course of work to reduce the immediate trauma and build some
self-esteem and with the possibility of group work. This project however has
been greatly affected by the lack of funding that would allow us to develop
this response.
Courses Attended.
One of the important aspects of our service at present is keeping up to date
with training and with the latest research etc to this end Two of our paid
workers continued and took on further training in psychotherapy in 2004,
while one of our volunteers successfully completed her 4 year training in
psychotherapy.. The following courses were also attended:
·
Courtroom Skills (RPC),
·
The Return Journey with Dr Nancy Davis (C.A.R.I) a full training in the use
of Multi-Sensory Trauma Processing
·
"Capacitar" Training in Multi- Cultural Wellness and a Grass Roots response
to marginalised and traumatised communities.
Courses/Workshops/Talks Given by the Centre.
·
The centre took part in an information day with staff in the hospital, a
workshop as a follow up and four training days with the Public Health Nurses
in 2004.
·
The facilitation of a workshop for Male Survivors of Abuse for MASC
conference in Galway in September, 04.
·
Talk at the RCNI/ Gardai Conference in Templemore December 04
Advocacy and Support.
This would be one of the most important parts of the service and the extent
of it is very hard to quantify in the regular recording of statistics. A
large number of clients need very basic help with their rights or their
safety issues or their simple very basic needs before they can engage with
counselling. This is sometimes referred to as the pre-counselling stage.
There are a small number of clients who do not move on from this stage but
we would very much regard standing with such a client as very important and
empowering.
Refugee and Asylum Seekers.
This year we found ourselves having to learn very quickly of the reality of
the lives of very traumatised asylum seekers and refugee women- living in
situations that were insecure from so many points of view- to engage in a
meaningful way with counselling, safety is a pre-requisite and this
community of women were from so many view points not safe. This required us
doing work we were unprepared for and up to and including lobbying to
prevent a deportation. That this is not what we are here for is very clear
but that we had no choice was also very clear. This work this year has had
a very big effect on our practice, our beliefs and our morale and refocused
us in a very new and welcome way on the whole area of violence against
women. We have also now established very good connections with the agencies
that are there to help our refugee women allowing us to get on with the
business of helping them live with what has happened to them.
Once is too Much and In Safe Hands.
2004 saw the tenth anniversary of the centre. This was celebrated in
conjunction with Mayo Women’s Support Services who also celebrated ten
years. The “Once is too Much” exhibition was staged in the Linenhall,
Castlebar in March and was a great success with both agencies collaborating
on the provision of volunteers to be in attendance at the Linenhall for the
duration of the exhibition and for training of the same volunteers. The
exhibition was the final outing for the “Once is too Much” exhibition
in Ireland. It was a very moving exhibition and time for both agencies.
Thanks to Noirin Clancy and Ann Burke for their work in co-ordinating the
exhibition and the volunteers. Thanks also to the volunteers.
“In Safe Hands” was a collaborative sculpture commission by both
agencies to celebrate the women who have used the services of Mayo Rape
Crisis Centre and Mayo Women’s Support Services. Elaine Griffin a local
artist was commissioned to create a bowl cast in bronze and cast using the
hands of both service users and workers from both agencies. This process
began in July and was launched in November 2004. The piece was also
exhibited with a backdrop of photographs and writings mounted on display
board. A booklet was also produced with writings from the women whose hands
were used in the casting. It is hoped that this will be a permanent
commemorative piece for the people of Mayo. The piece was exhibited in the
county Library before Christmas and will tour the county through the library
system and through community groups before resting in a permanent location.
Both of these creative projects consolidated and affirmed the connection
between both services and gave recognition to the real celebration of the
survival and thriving of the women using these services. A heartfelt thanks
to Elaine who worked with such sensitivity and vision on the piece, and also
to Frank O Riley who took the photographs. Heartfelt thanks also to Maria
Bracken for her presence at the launch- Maria’s was the first hand cast and
she availed of both services some years ago. Her presence was a gift to both
services on the night of the launch.
In some way the opening of the “Once is too Much “in Mayo was the
beginning of a new awareness raising initiative by both agencies – this was
helped by the presence of speakers from the National Women’s’ Council and
Amnesty International at the launch of both events. This was validation
again of the international and national implications of the work of both
agencies.
The Weave and the Poetry Workshop.
In September, also in celebration of our ten years a small group of women
took part in a poetry therapy weekend with John Fox, an eminent poetry
therapist from the U.S.A. A truly liberating weekend.
In November under the gentle guidance of Mervoee a weaving was started by
women using the centre which will hang in the centre when it is completed.
This was done over several nights and days and was again a very gentle and
evocative way of working for the women who took part. Completion in March
2005.
“Three Times More Likely”.
The video training project focusing on people with learning disabilities
accessing counselling is finally completed and will be ready for
distribution in spring 2005. There were many hold-ups to this project but it
is ready. We are hoping there will be a brochure available to go with it.
This project was funded by the Ireland Funds.
Grants Applied For:
Arts Council
turned down
Women’s Health Advisory Board-
Turned down.
Ireland Funds-
Turned down.
Dormant Accounts Fund-
No Response yet
People in Need-
No Response yet
Regional Planning Committee for Violence against Women.
All applications successful- with one grant not being drawn down due to
restriction on dates for spending of grant..
Committees and National Connections.
·
The Rape Crisis Network Ireland.
·
The Regional Planning Committee for Violence against Women
·
The Local “Children First” Child Protection Committee.
·
The Local Area Networks in Claremorris and Louisburgh.
Donations and Fundraising.
This year over 5,000 euro was raised. A significant amount was raised by the
Lions Club in Castlebar who put on a very enjoyable Variety concert in May
(after being cancelled in February) “Thurais Slanaim” in the Linenhall with
a number of Local Artists. There were also numerous donations as always by
the women using the service and by various individuals who ran in mini-
marathons, shaved beards and heads, and legs. A very sincere thank you to
all who donated money, time or gifts.
Finances and Accounts.
With our new status as a limited company, with our service agreements with
the Health Boards/ RPC’S and with the differing requirements of both our
funders and the national organisations we feed into there are many new
costs. The biggest one being, time, to fill in data, to apply for funding,
to write reports etc which has hugely increased over last few years and in
particular in 2004. This has compromised the development of the service in
that we have to respond to what is rightly required by the above agencies
but with no real increase in funding the extra tasks are having to be
carried out by the same number of staff. We have three full time posts and a
number of voluntary counsellors. This has been the same for the last number
of years. Our funding comes from two main sources at present the Department
of Health administered through the Western Health Board and the Regional
Planning Committee for violence against Women. There has been a very big
improvement in relation to the efficiency with which the Centre’s funding is
available from both sources and this has greatly added to the smoother
running of the service. Another very noticeable and very welcome
development was that in 2004 the Health Board a second increase in benchmark
funding allowed the salaries of the paid workers increase accordingly. This
was the second year such a payment was made available and was in keeping
with the commitment made by the Western Health Board to keep Grant Aid in
line with inflation escecially with regard to pay costs. There was also a
one off donation from the Health Board to offset the mortgage which again
was very gratefully received. Whilst actions such as these are small in
terms of development they are recognition of our work and our value as part
of this community.
Thanks to in particular this year to
:
Vincent De Paul Society.
The Community Welfare Department.
Money, Advice and Budgeting Service.
Lions Club Castlebar.
Soroptomists, Castlebar.
The Irish Refugee Council.
Amnesty International
Plans for the 2005
·
To review the service, to evaluate the service, and to complete a strategic
plan for the coming ten years.
·
To establish a fundraising committee.
·
To train in a further five voluntary counsellors and thereby reduce the
waiting list for counselling.
·
To maintain at a minimum level our crisis, outreach and education work.
·
To look at setting up a full time service in Ballina and the North Mayo
Region.
·
To begin to meet with both the Gardai and the Hospital (casualty) with a
view to continuing the dialogue started this year.
·
To maintain the focus on the more marginalised groups.
·
To begin to look at ways of facilitating Male Survivors of Sexual Violence
access to appropriate services.
Conclusion.
2004 was a pivotal year for Mayo Rape Crisis Centre for many reasons. Our
relationship with the local community care has continued to grow and evolve
in a very professional and satisfying way. There is acknowledgement,
recognition, and support of our work and in particular the preventative
aspect of it. There was the continuing and increasing contact with Gardai-
this contact was we believe important in helping clients decide to make
complaints, in addition to the willingness of the local Gardai to take on
board suggestions from both ourselves and clients; and from the increasing
sensitivity of the Gardai to the reality of making a complaint of sexual
violence.
There was the wonderful work done with the Mayo Women’s Support Services- a
truly celebratory year. Being involved with all the creative projects was
wonderful for all those who took part. Something got started in 2004 and it
will hopefully bring us into our futures more resolved and sure than ever of
the need for our spaces.
We cannot remember 2004 without remembering our asylum seekers whose
journeys we had the privilege of sharing – feeling inept at times and
stretched but not because of the women themselves, but because of being
witness to how they were being asked to live and survive. At all times as
with all our women – they brought with them incredible pain but also
such hearts and souls and immense energy into the centre. We have gained.
The removal to England of one of our clients and her two little girls
suddenly was a very, very tough moment but through it all every day- women
came in to the centre and received a professional service. As with all our
women, we are not depleted by their pain or losses we are enlivened and
energised and inspired. One comment that must be made though is that it is
startlingly to us, is that not one of the women we have worked with from
this community received refugee status- they were all turned down, their
credibility in question. We go into 2005 also continuing to be concerned
with regard Our Client who was removed to England and to the continuing
insecurity she and her children face.
Finally we cannot reflect on 2004 without acknowledging Nicci
Rowntree-Carroll who has relocated to Spain. To say thank you for the last
years, for your dedication, your time and your heart.
And finally to every women who steps into the centre not knowing and
with courage and hope allows herself her journey- thank you, thank you,
thank you.
RUTH MAC NEELY . February 2005.
Board of Directors;
Ann Shesgreen
Mary Davidson
Margart Loughney
Orla Mc Donnell
Deidre Leeman
Janet O Neill
Ann Whittle
The thing is
to love life, to love it even
when you have no stomach for it
and everything you’ve held dear
crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,
your throat filled with the silt of it.
when grief sits with you, its tropical heat
thickening the air, heavy as water
more fit for gills than lungs;
when grief weights you like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief,
you think, How can a body withstand this?
Then you hold life like a face
between you palms, a plain face,
no charming smile, no violet eyes,
and you say , yes, I will take you
I will love you again.
Ellen Bass
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