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Dear Safe Place Access Site; As a Safe Place Access Site volunteer, you are well aware that Project Safe Place has been operating in the Lisburn area for Just over a month. The Belfast part of the scheme was launched the week beginning March 30'h. We believe it is vital that you are kept informed as to how the scheme is progressing, The purpose of this letter is twofold: to convey the basic statistical information for the first month of the scheme and to share our prediction for future demand. In the month of March we received over forty calls from young people accessing the scheme. Of those calls, approximately 33% were "initial" serious calls requiring a response from the manager or duty manager and almost 20% were "follow-up to initial calls. There was one instance of a "walk-in" to an access site (the YMCA) and the rest of the calls were either "hang-ups" or "hoax" calls. The issues included bullying, abuse, smoking, obsession with a pop star, depression and worry about a friend. The age of the callers ranged from 10 years to 23 years one call from a couple in their 40's looking for support for themselves as parents of a glue-sniffing son. To date, the Duty Managers have been able to assist the young people calling, in to the scheme without the assistance of the contact volunteers. Although we have not had a call requiring a volunteer response, it is still early in the pilot scheme. With recent publicity - BBC Radio Ulster 'On Your Behalf, the Lisburn Echo and a possible upcoming short feature on BBC 1 Newsline, concurrent distribution of cards displaying the freephone number to the younger students in the Lisburn high schools and distribution of posters throughout the community - we expect an increase in calls to Safe Place. We also expect a corresponding increase in the potential for volunteer call-outs and the need for host home accommodation. The formal launch of Project Safe Place will take place on April 28, 1998 at the Beechlawn House Hotel in Belfast. Rose O'Neill from the BBC has agreed to assist us with the proceedings. Again, we acknowledge your commitment to Project Safe Place and reiterate your involvement is vital to the success of the scheme. Yours sincerely,
Beverly Siberry Project Manager . Project Safe Place is supported by NITV (S.S.P.P.R.), Down Lisburn Trust and North & West Belfast Trust
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