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We were delighted to meet with High Sheriff Remony Millwater to accept a High Sheriff Award in recognition of all the work that we did to support Domestic Abuse survivors during the COVID19 lockdowns.

By moving our one to one work, support groups and one stop shops online we were able to continue to meet the needs of our service users.  The challenges of supporting domestic abuse survivors remotely has been hard wok for our team and we are so proud to have this achievement publicly recognised.

Some of our team met with Remony to discuss the support we provide and to accept the award which is now proudly on display on our office.

 

Following the latest announcement moving Kent into Tier 4, we are now taking the following steps to keep our team and service users safe, particularly in light of the new strain of the virus which is spreading more quickly.

 

From previous lockdowns we have experience in how to successfully adapt our ways of working to enable us to continue supporting women children and young people across Kent. We will review these measures as the situation progresses and government guidelines develop.

 

One-to-one work

• All one-to-one work with children and adults will now be carried out remotely.
• Face to face meeting is permitted when essential and when safety precautions have been taken and social distancing can be maintained.
• Resources can be dropped off at service users’ homes whilst social distancing is maintained, face coverings worn and hand sanitiser used before and after drop off.

 

Groups

• Support groups are currently suspended for the Christmas holidays. From January all groups will be delivered virtually.

 

One Stop Shop

• The One Stop Shops on the 24^th and 31^st December have been cancelled.
• If you have any questions our anonymous, confidential helpline is a free service offering emotional support, practical information and a safe space to talk. 01227 452852  Mon – Fri: 9:00am – 5:00pm

 

Whilst we are disappointed that we are not able to meet our service users face to face we are committed to continuing to meet the needs of service users during this time of uncertainty and beyond.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a worrying time for all of us, and in particular for domestic abuse survivors who have found themselves isolating with an abuser and unable to reach their support networks.  Here at Rising Sun we have been faced with the challenge of continuing to support survivors through these difficulties.

Our August Newsletter provides more information about how we have adapted our services during lockdown, how our supporters have continued to fundraise and what exciting new projects we have planned for the future….

Read our full newsletter here:  Rising Sun Newsletter August 2020

If you would like to receive updates from Rising Sun please contact us on support@risingsunkent.com

We would not be able to support survivors of domestic abuse without the ongoing support from our community. Thanks again to everyone who continues to donate time, money and items to Rising Sun.

We would like to update you on Rising Sun’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak. This will be reviewed as the situation progresses and government guidelines develop.
We are very concerned that self-isolation and social distancing restrictions will present increasing challenges and risks for survivors of domestic abuse and their families. We anticipate there will be increased household tension and domestic violence due to forced coexistence, economic stress, and fears about the virus.
Therefore as an organisation we are committed to continuing to meet the needs of service users during this time of uncertainty and beyond, and are adapting some of the ways we work to enable us to do so. We have identified three key priorities for this period.
1) Women and children continue to feel safe and supported
 We will share the load to make sure we continue to provide a responsive and needs led service.
 We will train and support staff to meet demand.
 We will develop new ways of working to enable us to support clients safely while restrictions are in place.
2) Staff well-being is maintained
 We will provide a structure of support for the team.
 We will keep staff informed in a timely manner.
 We will be considerate of staff needs and skills.
3) Rising Sun is prepared for the future
 We will pull together to continue to deliver outputs and outcomes.
 We will work efficiently and economically.
 We will plan ahead and review regularly.
At present, our team are all working remotely and contactable by email, phone or video call, enabling us to communicate with adults and young people to provide safety, advice and support.
We will continue to update and communicate via platforms such as our website and telephone answering service as we respond to updates, advice and guidance from the government and wider networks.
Below is a summary of our services and any adaptations currently in place. If you are looking to make a referral, please continue to follow the usual processes and referral pathways. We will be in touch with referrers to look at and discuss the best and most workable options for support.
Please do feel able to contact us with any queries or concerns you may have either by phone 01227 452852 or email at admin@risingsunkent.com.
Confidential Helpline
 Our confidential helpline (01227 452852) is still available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
 We are monitoring the number and type of calls we receive and are considering extending helpline hours to evenings and weekends if needed and if we have capacity.
Community Adult Services
 Domestic abuse outreach and mentoring services continue, offering telephone or online video support.
 Staff are not attending drop ins (One Stop Shops) but posters have been displayed at regular drop in locations directing service users to call our confidential helpline.
 Alternative arrangements are in place for solicitor appointments.
 Phoenix, Freedom, Cafe and Family Now groups have been suspended and check in calls with clients will be made throughout the period of restrictions.
 Counselling is being carried out via telephone or online video calls.
Hospital Domestic Abuse Service
 We are providing a remote domestic abuse service to William Harvey Hospital and Darent Valley Hospital, offering telephone support.
Children and Young People Services
 Our one-to-one male adolescent service continues, offering telephone or online video support.
 Our adolescent girls groups have been postponed and check in calls with clients will be made throughout the period of restrictions. We are investigating creation of video session recordings and more one-to-one support will be offered to adolescent girls via phone or video call.
 Children and youth groups have been postponed and check in calls with clients will be made throughout the period of restrictions.
 Holiday activities for children and young people have been cancelled.
 Rising Sun workers have developed activity packs for the children and dropped them off at homes.
 Family support is being provided through check in calls to parents.
 Our counselling service for young people is being carried out via telephone or online video calls.
Other Services
 Practitioner workshops have been postponed, we are investigating how we can deliver these online via webinar / video recordings and online Q&A sessions.
 Delivery of domestic abuse training sessions has been postponed.

Rising Sun DVAS wins funding from Big Lottery to secure futures for girls who are at risk of exploitation and abuse

Kent charity, Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse Service has received funding of £520,043 from the Big Lottery women & girls initiative. The funding will underpin Project Liberty, a three year project to support local women & girls who are at risk of being exploited and abused.
Last year the Big Lottery announced they were investing over £48.5million across the country to support projects specifically for women and girls. Over a 1,000 charities applied and through the selection process they selected 63 projects from around the country, with one Kent project being chosen.

Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse Service were successful with their application for Project Liberty to be delivered across Ashford, Canterbury and Swale, reaching over 270 women and girls, aged between 11 and 24 years. The project will be delivered in partnership with SATEDA, who supports those living with domestic abuse in Swale.

Anne Lyttle, Rising Sun’s Service Director states, “We are delighted to prepare for the launch of Project Liberty. We have been working in Canterbury and Swale for the past three years with a similar project, so had identified a need for this work. We also deliver different programmes to children, adolescents and adults in Ashford, so we are pleased that we can now extend this vital service there too. We are very grateful to the Big Lottery for their confidence in us, financing a significant proportion of the £650,000 project.”

Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse Service has over 35 years’ experience of working with adults, families and children who live with or have lived with domestic abuse. Related issues for young people have become more prevalent, so the service has been working with girls at risk for over 10 years.

Anne Lyttle continues, “In December 2015, the Home Office set out statutory guidance to define controlling behaviour and coercive behaviour, recognising it as a form of abuse. Being able to provide long term mentoring and therapeutic support will be vital in helping girls who are at risk of exploitation and abuse to have a better future, reduce risk-taking behaviour and improve their aspirations. Good quality interventions and support can make the difference between short-term safety or simply surviving abuse and living a secure and fulfilled life. Our goal is to reduce the impact of domestic violence and abuse in the longer term and it is essential that a range of provisions is in place to meet the needs of women and girls”.

Kent County Council and the Kent Police Crime Commission are also supporting Project Liberty. However, Rising Sun DVAS still rely on the support from the local community to continue to provide the much-needed service. In September, an exhibition is to be held in the Beaney Library, Canterbury, to present artwork created by young people who have been supported by Rising Sun DVAS’s programmes. Anne explains, “It’s a great opportunity to showcase the positive outcomes of the service. We would welcome our community to come and meet with us there to learn more about our vital work.”

To support Rising Sun Domestic Violence and Abuse Service you can get involved with our annual Jump4theSun in September, walking the London to Brighton route, or raise funds at work. Offers from volunteers are also welcome. To find out more call on 01227 452852