A COUNSELLING service for victims of rape and sexual abuse which was axed by the NHS, has been relaunched as a charity.

The Sanctuary at Shildon has taken over from the South Durham Counselling Service after its shoestring £20,000 budget was withdrawn in the spring.

Manager Luan Deakin received an email out of the blue saying funding for the new financial year was not going to be renewed and she was being given a small budget to wind up existing cases.

This move would have left people who desperately need the service facing a lengthy wait for help and they would possibly find themselves talking to a counsellor not specifically trained for these kinds of cases.

Determined not to let this happen, Mrs Deakin set about finding ways to keep the facility up-and-running.

Following many sleepless nights and a lot of hard work, she located a new venue in the former HSBC bank premises in Main Street, Shildon, and together with the help of her team of volunteers, opened The Sanctuary at Shildon last month.

Like before, it still provides a confidential service for a range of issues including rape and sexual abuse – including some historic incidents – bereavement and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

None of the volunteers are paid and all operational costs such as rent, insurance and phone calls will be paid for by fundraising, and funding if it can be accessed.

“When it was South Durham Counselling Service we got so many referrals because there was nowhere else like it around,” said Mrs Deakin.

“We were a free service with no time limits. That is why we just had to keep it going.

“These people aren’t victims they are survivors and we support them for free for as long as we feel they need it.

“This place is perfect for our service. We are still trying to get the place established and everything has to paid for by fundraising. Although we have applied for funding but this will take time.

“We had £20,000 a year before and that was a shoestring budget. We see about 20 people a week but we are getting referrals every day and we operate an open door policy.”

The centre is also starting to be used by community groups and Mrs Deakin has the Shildon’s indoor market operating once a month to raise funds. The next one will take place on Tuesday, December 5, between 1pm and 5.30pm.

Mrs Deakin added: “Initially this service is available to anyone in County Durham who can get to us but we have had people from further afield. We are that busy we could be open 24-hours-a-day.

“Hopefully we can just grow and grow and help as many people as we can.”