STARS Dorset launches its first Crowdfunding Page

STARS Dorset has been chosen as one of the projects supported by the Aviva Community Fund. With the help of Aviva we have set up a Crowdfunding page, our FIRST EVER, and we're asking the local community to pledge their support and help us raise funds to ensure our services are available to all those who need our support across Dorset during these unprecedented times.

We're hoping to raise £2500 to cover the increased costs we have and will incur from continuing to support clients through and after COVID-19. Before the pandemic hit our Counselling Service and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor Service were provided as one to one, face to face support services. Due to the restrictions put in place we changed the way it works and in doing so we have and will continue to incur costs such as creating an online assessment team, training all our counsellors to be proficient in online counselling and covering additional phone and video platform costs. STARS Dorset is hoping through the money raised it will be able to create and maintain our free support services enabling everyone across Dorset continued access to our services.

Helen Stevens, Service Manager at STARS Dorset, said;

“Since the outbreak of COVID-19 we have extended the hours of our Listening Support Line Service and our Live Chat capabilities and ensured our Counsellor and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors could continue to support our clients. Last year we supported over 1800 people in Dorset and we want to ensure we are able to maintain this level of support and more. We’re very excited to launch our first ever Crowdfunding page and hope the local community will pledge so we can continue our work across Dorset.”

The Aviva Community Fund supports small charities with forward-thinking ideas across the UK with funding, vital support and resources all year round. This year the Aviva Community Fund has teamed up with online fundraising platform, Crowdfunder, to give eligible causes in the Fund the chance to learn valuable crowdfunding skills and inspire support from Aviva employees and the public. building stronger communities with the new backing for their clever idea.

To pledge your support for the campaign please visit their Crowdfunding page here: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/sexual-trauma-and-recovery-services-going-mobile

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