Organisation needs a lifeline
LifeLine Ekurhuleni's counselling services are facing closure.
The organisation offers telephone, face-to-face and trauma counselling to trauma victims.
Debbie Richards, director of LifeLine Ekurhuleni, said the reason for the possible closure is financial constraints.
“We are trying to keep our counselling services open, but this month is worse,” she said.
“Next month is going to be worse if the situation continues as is.”
Currently, some members of staff are on unpaid leave, including Richards.
“We have had to cut wherever we can; there are a few counsellors who are available, but not all the time,” she said.
The closure of the counselling line could happen any day now.
“We have two counselling sites,” explained Richards.
“It costs R20 000 a month to keep the Benoni counselling site open and it costs R15 000 to run the Tsakane branch.”
What worries LifeLine employees is that at this time of the year counselling services are needed the most.
“Matrics will be receiving their results and crime levels will increase, which lead to trauma and a need for counsellors,” said Richards.
“It breaks my heart to know that people who are traumatised may not have a counsellor.”
Richards is appealing for businesses to sponsor these services.
“We have tried to raise funds, but we are not able to get enough funding,” she said.
The employees who are on unpaid leave are currently working as volunteers.
“We made a promise that we will be available to the community 24 hours a day, and it’s sad that we can’t fulfil that,” said Richards.
One of the programmes that won’t be closed is the Victim Empowerment Service, which focuses on victims of domestic violence.
This programme receives funding from the Department of Social Development.
Businesses and members of the public who would like to make a financial contribution can contact Richards on 072 253 1244.
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