A centre in Somerset West which helps children who have been victims of sexual abuse, has found a new way to bring in much-needed funds.
PATCH, which stands for Prevention And Treatment of Child sexual abuse, works across all areas in the Helderberg.
They have launched a coffee trailer service to the public.
Amanda-Lea Jones, PATCH corporate and community fund-raiser, said the idea was born after they saw another coffee trailer at an event.
In a recent Facebook Post, Ms Jones invited the public to hire the PATCH Helderberg coffee trailer for events.
According to PATCH, it deals with on average 400 child sexual abuse cases annually.
Ms Jones said: “PATCH specialises in a crime that most wish to ignore. Combined with this is the fact that our services are intangible, and we are limited to the amount of information we can share on a client’s progress.
“We are therefore often overlooked for funding when it comes to financing our therapeutic services. Funding raised from coffee sales go directly towards our running costs where we are not limited to how or when we can spend it.”
To raise funds that will reach their monthly target, she said they need to sell large quantities of coffee, waffles, and toasted sandwiches and appeals to the public to assist by inviting them out to set-up operations at events, functions or festivals.
People can also assist in fund-raising by contributing second-hand clothing to be sold in their charity shop.
“We also have an ongoing need for toiletries for our medical room as well as non-perishable food. All these items are equivalent to financial donations and have a huge impact on the work we do and the services we provide.”
Services offered by PATCH to children who have been victims of sexual abuse include assessment, therapeutic interventions, preparation for court and a 24-hour crisis line.
There are also prevention and awareness programmes where auxiliary social workers go out to schools and educare centres to educate children on their private body parts, what sexual abuse is, to report it and who to report it to.
In a video sent to Bolander, one of the victims who was assisted by PATCH after being raped at the age of 13, spoke on how the organisation has helped her deal with that traumatic incident. She said: “PATCH helped me a lot through the process of healing after I was raped. PATCH has empowered me to become the person that I am today.”
Ms Jones said they are committed to preventing the scourge of child sexual abuse in the Helderberg and prompted parents to be alert to the possibility of sexual abuse and of perpetrators who will often groom a community or a family to obtain access to a child.
“We ask that parents, caregivers and family members be knowledgeable about how easily this crime can occur as well as to ensure open communication with their children, allowing them to feel comfortable to talk about anything or anyone that makes them feel uncomfortable.”
She instructed parents, in cases of sexual abuse being reported to them by their children, to listen to the child and to believe and support the child as the initial reaction the child gets is significant to their healing process.
To contact Ms Jones to hire the PATCH coffee trailer, call her on 021 852 6110 or email mandy@preciouspatch.co.za
