By Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland Today
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 11:33:52 EDT PM
COBOURG - A new under-one-roof community-support hub for women who have experienced domestic violence of sexual assault is opening for Northumberland County.
The Hub — operated by Thrive: Northumberland Coalition To End Violence — is a walk-in service open each Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre at 40 Swayne St. in Cobourg.
All services offered at the Hub are free and confidential, and free parking and child care are provided.
The coalition behind Thrive is a collection of community agencies dedicated to breaking the cycle of violence for women in Northumberland, the announcement said, based on a provincial framework of best practice.
The goal is to leverage community collaboration to enhance the level of service available to women who have experienced abuse or violence. The Hub provides immediate access to essential on-site support services, ensuring confidential consultations ad facilitating direct referrals to off-site partners.
Project consultant Nicole Beatty said the project is designed to provide access to multiple services at one location for women aged 16 and up.
“Women can choose from a multitude of services — including family court information, crisis counselling, links to shelters, primary health care, Ontario Works income and employment support — as part of her personal action plan,” Beatty said in the press release.
Services provided at the Hub focus on four key areas of support for women — crisis counselling, safety planning, legal counselling, and housing and income support.
Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre, Northumberland Community Counselling Centre, Highland Shores Children’s Aid, Northumberland County Community and Social Services, The Help Centre and the Port Hope Northumberland Community Health Centre will provide on-site counselling and support. There are more than 30 additional community partners to which women visiting the Hub can be referred.
This is a safe place for women to come and receive immediate, direct and inclusive support,” Beatty stated.
“Freedom from domestic abuse is a fundamental human right for everyone,” she added.
“The Thrive: Northumberland Coalition to End Violence believes that everyone is responsible for ending violence against women and creating a violence- free community.”
The Hub will be open for the first time May 15. For more information, visit www.thrivenorthumberland.ca or email thrivenorthumberland@gmail.com.
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/2017/05/10/new-support-hub-launched-in-cobourg