‘Our service saves lives’

Counsellors, support workers and staff at a charity that helps victims of sexual abuse and rape in Northern Ireland are organising with Unite to keep the vital service open, as the impact of austerity continues to harm society’s most vulnerable people.

Nexus NI is a support charity for people who have suffered sexual abuse or rape, offering free of charge counselling, therapy and education services across Northern Ireland.

But, despite seeing a 22 per cent rise in referrals since 2013 and with a waiting list of more than 200 people, Nexus has had no increase in funding to cope with demand.

“As government departments are squeezing budgets, the arena of charitable trusts and foundations as a source of income is extremely competitive and, as people now have less disposable income, fundraising has also become challenging,” says Nexus NI chief executive, Cara Cash.

The contract the charity is currently delivering on will expire next year, where it will then be put out for sale to the highest bidder. The staff and Unite members at Nexus NI hope that they will be able to renew their contract and keep the service, but for now the future of this crucial charity is uncertain.

Unite members at Nexus have organised to try to prevent the closure of the service by raising awareness of the charity and the threats it faces as well as fundraising by running marathons and organising events such as a Speakeasy charity ball that will take place in November.

“We are extremely lucky that the entire staff team without exception is committed to the work of our organisation,” Cara says.

“They are a truly special group of people and have risen to each and every challenge presented to them.  They are open and willing to try new things, to embrace new partnerships and to look at new ways of delivering our service.”

Unite rep Catherine Mallon has worked as a part-time cleaner for Nexus for 17 years. During that time she has seen thousands of abuse survivors receive therapy and support – in the last year alone Nexus has saved at least five lives from suicide and helped 112 people into employment or make significant progress with their career.

“The service this charity provides is vital,” Catherine says. “I see the people who arrive here, their head down with shame because they are carrying the burden of what has happened to them. But after a few weeks of coming here that same person transforms.

‘Suffer in silence’

“Sexual abuse is not something to be taken lightly – it can affect a person’s entire life. Without support services like Nexus, victims are left to suffer in silence, they often wrongly blame themselves and this can lead to self-harm and even suicide.”

After becoming the shop steward for Nexus in 2014, Catherine organised with her colleagues to join Unite. That year, having sought union recognition, the staff received a 2 per cent pay rise. Unfortunately however, this has not risen with the growth of the service in the years since.

“Funding cuts are destroying many organisations like Nexus who support survivors of sexual abuse,” warned Unite national officer for equalities, Siobhan Endean.

“Proper analysis should be done on the impact of cuts to communities and the false economies that they produce. Unite are calling on the government to commit to sufficient funding to rebuild the services and communities that have been hit by austerity,” she says.

Nexus NI has been running for 30 years across Northern Ireland in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry and Enniskillen.

As well as its counselling services for victims of sexual abuse, it offers workshops for parents, youth workers and teachers to help them support a child who had suffered abuse.

One of Nexus’ clients, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Nexus offers a safe place where you’re treated like a human being. They help you to get on with your life.

“I don’t think I would have survived the last six months without them. It has totally changed my outlook and given me hope for the future.”

It is this life-saving support that Unite members at Nexus are so passionately protecting and motivates Catherine to continue leading their activism.

“The staff here know and see every day how vital the service that Nexus provides is for our clients,” Cara says.

“We know our service saves lives, improves mental health and relationships. Without it, we worry about those we help as to what the alternative would be.”

For more information about Nexus and its’ fund raising campaigns visit www.nexusni.org