South West Surrey Outreach Service has received a highly commended award for its customer service at the first ever awards ceremony held by national charity Chapter 1. The service fought off stiff competition with more than 50 nominations received for just six awards.

Outreach Service Project Manager, Pauline, explained: ‘We’re very proud to have received this commendation, as all of Chapter 1’s projects do such wonderful work. It’s a real credit to the team here in Surrey.

She added: “We offer practical advice, information and emotional support to both male and female victims of domestic abuse. We can help with things like civil orders and alarms for protection, find refuge spaces if needed, or just listen. We also have a children’s outreach that offers support to children alongside that offered to mum.”

The Outreach Service operates Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm on tel: 01483 577392 and covers the boroughs of both Guildford and Waverley.

A satisfaction survey is voluntarily completed by the clients and quotes from this year’s forms include the follow:

“My outreach worker has a very special skill. She’s helped me heal by meeting me where I am. She’s slowly held my hand as I walk out of this darkness. I will be eternally grateful to her for making me see how brave I am to take the first steps out from the prison and hell I was in and had no idea why. It’s a rare gift to have the ability not to patronise but to offer this kind of support.”

“Outreach has supported me more than I could have hoped for. I feel safe and my fear subsides every time I spend time talking with them, either face to face or on the phone. I don’t know how I would have coped with out the support.”

Chapter 1, Chief Executive, Geoff Hawkins, explained the thinking behind the ‘Great 1s’ awards by saying: “We have launched this award scheme to recognise the wealth of innovative talent, dedication and commitment within the Chapter 1 family of staff, service users and volunteers. When we asked for nominations, we had no idea that there would be such an overwhelming response.

He added: “More than 50 individuals and teams were nominated from our projects across the country. ‘The standard of nominations was very high and everyone who was put forward is to be congratulated. The judges had a difficult job to select the winners.”

Chapter 1 project works in partnership with both Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils’ ‘Safer Partnerships’ to provide support to people in the community facing domestic abuse. Since they opened in 2004 they have helped more than 2000 individuals.

Chair of the judges, Keith Croxton, said: “It was a joy and a privilege to read through all the nominations. The stories that were told were moving and inspiring. They said so much about the tremendous work going on in our organisation, and the life changing experiences of our residents.

And added: “If this were the Oscars every nominee would deserve to walk down the red carpet. They were all winners. Hard though it was, we had to make the decisions about who received awards this year, and we congratulate those selected for their achievements. On behalf of the judging panel can I say a huge thank you to all who took part.”

Chapter 1 provides accommodation and related support services to help vulnerable people enjoy a more fulfilled life. It is a charity, based on Christian principles, which offers human compassion and practical support to meet people’s needs respecting their faith, culture and social background. Currently Chapter 1 works in partnership with 29 local authorities and has a growing network of 40 projects across England.

Further information
South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Outreach 01483 577392
www.ch1.org.uk