Our next story concerns the Linden Victim Support Unit, which is the sub-forum of the Linden Community Police Forum (CPF). It’s made up of volunteers who go through training sessions and are then allocated to different crime scenes according to their profile, in a bid to assist victims with trauma and counselling.
The role of the Linden Victim Support Unit’s first responders is to provide information, emotional and practical support, including advising the victims of their rights and informing them of the process that will follow. Pro bono counselling and debriefing then follows 48 hours after the event and is conducted by a qualified counsellor in a controlled environment.
The dedicated men and women of the Linden Victim Support Unit are all volunteers with full-time jobs and families of their own, yet the unit offers support to victims of crime 24 hours a day.
The unit relies on community support and donations for assistance in running the unit, which was explained by first responder, Nikki Raymond Paul, when she joined the HOT 1027 Breakfast team and Silverstar’s Deon Basson on air, to tell their story.
“The role of the trained volunteers of Linden Victim Support is to act as a buffer between the victims and the police,” said Paul. “Once our job is done, the victims are then placed in the hands of actual trauma counsellors, so their ordeal doesn’t cast a shadow over the rest of their lives.”
Another thing the Linden Victim Support Unit provides is something called ‘dignity bags’, which are taken by first responders to particularly violent crime scenes. These bags contain essential items and provide the victims with some dignity after such a traumatic event and include a knitted or fluffy toy for some emotional support as well.
But, these bags obviously cost money, along with the funds needed for the constant upkeep of the unit, the maintenance of their premises, cell phone costs to ensure there’s a 24-hour hotline, and reflective jackets for volunteers to wear at crime scenes, so they are identifiable and kept safe.
That’s where Silverstar and Hot Cares come in, with Basson able to pass on the good news that Silverstar will be contributing R20 000 towards the unit.
“Oh my goodness, Deon, that is amazing” said Paul. “And thank you so, so much. That will go such a long way and it is just incredible, thank you!”.
If you would like to nominate an individual, initiative or organization that could do with some help, as part of the Silverstar Pays It Forward campaign, send an email to [email protected].
