Reach Services, NHS Trust 2015-2016
BCBN donates £18,059 to the Reach Services, NHS Trust
Opposite the Palace of Westminster, Guys & St Thomas’ Hospital has a history dating back over 800 years, associated with such illustrious names as Florence Nightingale it is one of London’s most famous hospitals. The delightful evening of engagement and award presentations saw the Reach Services project, based at the hospital, receive an award of £18,059 from BCBN for the second year running since government cuts had pre-empted its possible closure.
The Reach Service carries out life-changing work providing assistance to disadvantaged people in vulnerable relationships and social support to families in crisis, helping to rebuild their lives. Through the partnership, BCBN funded the salary for a Multi-lingual Domestic Abuse Advisor for its second year, assisting women and children in vulnerable situations.
Since BCBN’s funding began, the REACH service has been able to support 180 victims of domestic abuse, who between them had 160 children. This equates to 340 people who REACH’s domestic abuse advisor has helped to keep safe and reduce the risk of further violence. The REACH service continues to have one of the lowest rates of repeat victimisation and being able to discuss safety plans and address patients’ own personal and particular circumstances in the language they prefer to use; enabling them to improve their situation and keep them safe.
“The entire Emergency Department were delighted that BCBN agreed to provide future funding as our clinical staff understood how beneficial such a post has proven to be to our vulnerable, at risk patients. The legacy of our award is that each patient who is referred to the REACH service is given the same, equal level of service regardless of their ethnicity or religion”.
– Laura, REACH Manager
