VICTIM SUPPORT OFFICE TO BE BASED IN OMAGH
Victim Support office to be based in Omagh
Omagh is to be the main office for the organisation, Victim Support which supports people who have been affected by crime.
The organisation which helped 40,000 victims last year cut the number of its branches by half in a bid to make its service more efficient. From the beginning of this month the existing 15 branches were reduced to eight.
Victims Support feels the steps it is taking will provide a better service to victims of crime.
The head of the organisation explained why cutting the number of offices could make them more efficient. Oliver Wilkinson said "Victim Support had fifteen offices but a lot of them were manned by one part-time member of staff. By reducing the number to eight, we can provide three full-time members in each office".
Omagh will be the site of the main office for an area which will also include Fermanagh and Strabane. The existing office in Enniskillen is to be kept open for the forseeable future.
Omagh was part of the Erne, Strule and Clogher Valley Branch which supported over 2,290 victims of crime last year - a rise of over 18 per cent on the previous year.
Victim Support was founded in Northern Ireland in 1981. Since then, it has grown rapidly, and last year's total of 38,407 victims of crime was an increase of almost 25 per cent on the previous year.
Trained volunteers visit victims of crime in their own homes, and provide emotional support, practical help and information.
Members of the group have been involved in providing support for families at the Omagh Inquests over the past three weeks.
Those they help include victims of domestic burglary, criminal damage, and a wide range of violent crimes including murder. Many victims feel it is helpful to talk to somebody outside the family who knows how to listen.
Those who require more specialised help are referred on to appropriate organisations.
The present 15 branches are each run by paid staff, by a co-ordinator or a part-time co-ordinator. The eight new branches will have a branch manager, a co-ordinator and an administrative officer.
Oliver Wilkinson explained "There are a number of reasons why we are changing the way we do things.
"We are supporting a rapidly growing number of victims each year, and our volunteers increasingly deal with victims of crimes such as intimidation, domestic violence and sexual violence. Our new branch structure, and new staff structure, will mean a more consistent service across the whole of the province."
"But the original concept in the setting up of Victim Support that trained volunteers visit victims of crime in their own community will continue to be at the very heart of what we do."
In addition, Oliver Wilkinson said, local branch committees will continue to ensure that services provided by Victim Support match local need.
The Branch office can be contacted at 02866 322475. The service is confidential and free.
For more information contact Oliver Wilkinson at 02890 - 244039 or on mobile no 07775 - 846608.
Omagh is to be the main office for the organisation, Victim Support which supports people who have been affected by crime.
The organisation which helped 40,000 victims last year cut the number of its branches by half in a bid to make its service more efficient. From the beginning of this month the existing 15 branches were reduced to eight.
Victims Support feels the steps it is taking will provide a better service to victims of crime.
The head of the organisation explained why cutting the number of offices could make them more efficient. Oliver Wilkinson said "Victim Support had fifteen offices but a lot of them were manned by one part-time member of staff. By reducing the number to eight, we can provide three full-time members in each office".
Omagh will be the site of the main office for an area which will also include Fermanagh and Strabane. The existing office in Enniskillen is to be kept open for the forseeable future.
Omagh was part of the Erne, Strule and Clogher Valley Branch which supported over 2,290 victims of crime last year - a rise of over 18 per cent on the previous year.
Victim Support was founded in Northern Ireland in 1981. Since then, it has grown rapidly, and last year's total of 38,407 victims of crime was an increase of almost 25 per cent on the previous year.
Trained volunteers visit victims of crime in their own homes, and provide emotional support, practical help and information.
Members of the group have been involved in providing support for families at the Omagh Inquests over the past three weeks.
Those they help include victims of domestic burglary, criminal damage, and a wide range of violent crimes including murder. Many victims feel it is helpful to talk to somebody outside the family who knows how to listen.
Those who require more specialised help are referred on to appropriate organisations.
The present 15 branches are each run by paid staff, by a co-ordinator or a part-time co-ordinator. The eight new branches will have a branch manager, a co-ordinator and an administrative officer.
Oliver Wilkinson explained "There are a number of reasons why we are changing the way we do things.
"We are supporting a rapidly growing number of victims each year, and our volunteers increasingly deal with victims of crimes such as intimidation, domestic violence and sexual violence. Our new branch structure, and new staff structure, will mean a more consistent service across the whole of the province."
"But the original concept in the setting up of Victim Support that trained volunteers visit victims of crime in their own community will continue to be at the very heart of what we do."
In addition, Oliver Wilkinson said, local branch committees will continue to ensure that services provided by Victim Support match local need.
The Branch office can be contacted at 02866 322475. The service is confidential and free.
For more information contact Oliver Wilkinson at 02890 - 244039 or on mobile no 07775 - 846608.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1507
Published Date: 12-Oct-00
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