Individuals and community groups in Plymouth have told Victim Support that some may be reluctant to seek support as they feel there are other, more deserving people in need.
Victim Support (VS) want to reach out and reassure the entire community that they are there for anyone who needs help around the impact of crime.
VS is an independent, national charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. It provides specialist help to support people to cope and recover to the point where they feel they are back on track with their lives.
The local Devon and Cornwall service is open to anyone aged 18 who has been affected by any kind of crime directly or indirectly, regardless of whether it has been reported to the police or how long ago it happened. Support for under 18s is provided by its partners, The Zone and Young Devon.
A spokesperson for Victim Support said:
“We know at times it can feel hard to make sense of a world where some people cause serious harm to others. When this happens, it can result in a widespread ripple of harm, the effects of which can leave us confused and feeling unsafe. For some it can also resurface feelings and fears from previous experiences of crime.
“At VS we understand the range of emotions crime can create, from anger to sadness. These in turn can have different effects on our behaviour and how we live our lives. Different people react to crime differently and there is no right or wrong way to feel. There is also no right time to need help; some need it straight away while others may not feel ready for support until weeks or months later. Either way, there is no time limit on accessing our support. We know it is not always easy to reach out and seek help.”
Within the Devon and Cornwall caseworker team, Emma and Rebecca are specifically dedicated to supporting people living in the Plymouth area, and on a daily basis help people to process thoughts and concerns and find ways to feel safer, cope and move forward.
There are a number of ways to get in touch:
- Devon and Cornwall Helpline – 0300 303 0554 – 12pm to 6pm weekdays
- National Supportline – 08 08 1689 111 – 24 hours, seven days a week
Interpreters can be accessed if English is not the first language and are partnered with interpreting service SignLive, allowing deaf and hearing-impaired people to contact VS using British Sign Language (BSL) www.victimsupport.org.uk/accessibility/contact-victim-support-using-british-sign-language-bsl/
Live chat – www.victimsupport.org.uk – 24 hours, seven days a week
Online platform with guides on the impact of crime, both for you and to help someone else – www.mysupportspace.org.uk
