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Rape Crisis Centre plans to extend services north By Dianne Cornish The Halton Rape Crisis Centre, headquartered in Burlington, pro- vides support and information to victims of sexual violence. While that’s reassuring news for women in Halton, it doesn’ ee the “sense of isolation” felt by mam female residents of North Halton who don’t have the same accessi- bility to services as their counter- parts in the southern part of the Region. Isolation might also explain why the number of North Halton volun- teers assisting the Centre are dra- matically lower than those in the southegn part of the Region. During a recent interview, the Centre’s vol- unteer co-ordinator Margaret Perry noted that there are a total of 40 volunteers from Oakville and Burlington. In North Halton, there are five volunteers—three in Milton and two in Halton Hills. While “geographic isolation” and the “size of the Region” make ‘it difficult to extend services into Halton’s northern communities, Perry said plans are under way to extend the Centre’s reach north- ward. “It’s difficult to provide ser- vices with only a few volunteers in North Halton,” she said. However, on a brighter note, the Centre plans to do just that. “Our ultimate goal is to provide training and counselling sessions for volunteers in North Halton,” Perry said. In the meantime, efforts are being made to increase aware- ness of the Centre in Halton Hills and Milton and to increase the vol- unteer base. “If adequate response is achieved, a training session will be held (in North Halton), most likely in early 1993,” the volunteer co-ordinator said. Also among the organization’s goals is the establishment of “a physcial presence” in North Halton. Acton Social Services and Information Centre (ASSIC) has already offered space for a satellite office, Perry said, adding there’s a possibility that the Centre will operate there “once e week,” if details can be worked out Wendi Hunter and Elizabeth Carmichael hope to see the Centre reach its goals and they’re doing what they can to help. The women are the Centre’s only volunteers from Halton Hills, but they’re hop- ing to see their ranks grow in the weeks ahead. Crisis line manned 24 hours-a-day Hunter, who became a volunteer this past spring, is a Crisis Line vol- unteer and group co-facilitator for the Centre. The Crisis Line (875- 1555) is a 24-hour help line manned by volunteers, who provide support and information to victims of sexual violence. It has a Milton number, which means that it can be reached from any municipality in Halton Region without a long-dis- tance charge. As a group co-facilitator, Hunter helps coordinate self-directed dis- cussion for groups of four to eight women who are victims of sexual violence. “We’re not therapists, but we do provide valuable peer sup- port,” the local volunteer explained. Carmichael, who also became a volunteer in the spring, said Halton’s rural area is definitely dis- advantaged when it comes to acces- sibility to services because public transportation isn’t as readily available in rural parts of the Region as it is in Halton’s urban as. “The accessibility isn’t there if you don’t have a car,” she said, ¢ Unified Remote Control * Audio/Video Inputs ¢ Variable Audio Output © On-Screen Menu System 26" Remote Colour. TV Stereo Monitor Special Purchase Price...Limited Supply...Hurry In S548 00°" ws noting that her ability to become involved in community groups is limited because she doesn’t have a vehicle. She depends on Hunter to drive her to activities provided for volunteers of the Rape Crisis Centre. A Crisis Line volunteer and out- reach committee member, Carmichael is a steadfast supporter of the Centre’s training program, which consists of eight weekly three-hour sessions covering a wide range of topics, including law and incest. “It changed my outlook on life...it matured me,” she said. Carmichael said Centre volun- teers give “non-judgemental sup- port” to women. They accompany victims of sexual violence to hospi- tals or police and they provide sen- sitive support and information every step of the way. Other volun- teers, who don’t want to be front- line workers, help in public edcua- tion campaigns or get involved in committee worl The outreach committee, for example, tries to inform members of Halton’s multi-cultural commu- nity about the Centre and its work. Carmichael said it’s important to involve people of different ethnic backgrounds because women from other countries are often subjected to “emotional blackmail.” Some men who assault women from for- eign countries frighten their victims by telling them they’ll be thrown out of the country if they go to co with an assault charge, she cee Carmichael and Perry all expressed hope that North Halton’s volunteer base will grow to meet the needs of the community. ‘Women interested in learning more about the Centre or becoming a vol- unteer can call (416) 634-8182. Whether: it'sone ‘sone of you your favourite movies, or the big game on TV, you can't beat Goldstar for I quality TVs and VCRs, and you can't beat the prices ] at Milliere TV! 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