Fundraising for rape crisis centre

Dear sir - Supporters of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, which has within its remit Meath, are staging a fundraising week in Meath commencing Monday 21st November. The centre relies heavily on donations to exist. Events will be held in many areas in the county during that week such as coffee mornings, golf tournaments, and bridge tournaments. We would ask that your readers support these events where possible. Because of the times, the grants the rape crisis centre receives have currently been cut by 10 per cent and it is anticipated that there will be further cuts in the upcoming budget. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre was established in 1979 by persons concerned that there were no supports for the victims of rape. It is run on voluntary donations and also receives a grant from the HSE each year. This grant is given to pay the salaries of therapists employed by the centre who treat their clients. Donations pay for everything else. Last year the shortfall was approximately €500,000. Counties Meath and Kildare fall within the remit of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, and services provided include: A national 24 hour helpline manned by volunteers after 7pm until 8am and at weekends; crisis counselling service for recent victims of rape and sexual assault; long term therapy for adult victims of childhood sexual abuse and past sexual violence; outreach counselling services; medical accompaniment to the sexual assault treatment unit; court accompaniment; outreach talks to schools and community groups; training of professionals who work with victims of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse in Ireland; training programmes on preventing and dealing with bullying, harassment and sexual haassment in the workplace; legal services; advocacy; campaigning, lobbying and awareness raising; research and statistics. Yours, Maire Tehan, Liz Lynch, Eimer Hannon.