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Who We Are
Lifecentre is a registered charity (Reg charity No. 1084018). It was started in 2001 in response to the recognition that there were no specialised services available between
Portsmouth and Brighton for people who had been raped or sexually abused. A volunteer-run telephone helpline for adults opened two nights a week in May 2001 and then two professional counsellors were employed by the autumn of that first year to offer face to face counselling to any adult survivors. Set up funding was provided by Chichester District Council, Sussex Police and West Sussex County Council, other donations came in from the generosity of local groups and individuals. Members of a church in Chichester donated all the furniture and equipment needed to set up a small base.
By 2003, our Under 18s service had started with a specialist youth counsellor trained to work with Under18s, and the appointment of our first Educator to head up our outreach into schools, colleges and other venues for Under18s. SUST: Under18s was born.
Aims and Objectives of Lifecentre
- Lifecentre specialises in counselling survivors of rape and sexual violation, whether this has been a recent incident or historical.
- We are open to all male or female survivors, adults and Under18s, regardless of race, colour, nationality or ethnic origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, educational status or religion.
- We offer helpline support with separate telephone helpline services for Under18s and adults, an email and text service for all age groups, run by appropriately trained volunteers
- We offer face to face counselling, with professionally trained counsellors, to survivors, adults or Under18s and to supporters - close family members, or partners of survivors affected relationally by sexual violation. This includes couples’ counselling.
- Lifecentre works to promote public awareness of the issues which surround trauma-inducing life experiences, particularly those of sexual violation; and develops services which will encourage and empower survivors of such events to find a voice.
- It aims to promote the physical, mental, social, cultural and spiritual well-being of its service users
- All Lifecentre personnel follow Lifecentre Policies and Codes of Practice in their work and are committed to our Equal Opportunities Policy.
Lifecentre Managerial Structure
Lifecentre clinical staff are line managed by the Centre’s Director, who is a qualified Psychosexual Therapist as well as having management experience.
Telephone helpline team are jointly supervised by 3 of the senior counsellors.
The SUST Under 18s team of youth counsellors and Educator are line managed by the Centre’s Director.
All counsellors are supervised in their clinical work by one of our team of qualified Supervisors.
Lifecentre has a Board of Consultants to give specialised expert advice to the Lifecentre Team. This board includes a local GP, Psychiatrist and Director of Operations for Children and Young People with Social Services.
All staff and volunteers are accountable to the Board of Trustees.
Lifecentre Board of Trustees have professional experience in Social work, Child Protection, learning disabilities and special needs, accountancy, law, management and consultation.
Fund Raising
Lifecentre employs a part-time fund raiser whose principal role is to complete applications to funding bodies on behalf of the organisation.
Affiliations to National Organisations
Lifecentre is an Organisational Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and is bound by its Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy and subject to the Professional Conduct Procedure therein.
Lifecentre also holds organisational membership with NAMSAS – National Association of Services for Male Sexual Abuse Survivors; and is a full member of The Survivors Trust.
Lifecentre has a Christian foundation |
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