Kinergy is a Bristol charity that provides free, confidential counselling and group therapy for survivors of sexual violence, abuse, and rape aged 16 and over across the South West.
It was chosen as IOP Publishing’s charity of the year by a staff vote, and IOP Publishing staff will be fundraising for the charity in a variety of ways throughout 2018.
Bert Weenink from Kinergy said: “Volunteers, trustees and staff are all excited IOP Publishing has chosen Kinergy to be their charity of the year. It will make such a difference for our present and future clients. We have a waiting list of over 100 clients, who will have to wait between 10 and 12 months if we cannot increase the number of counselling sessions we provide. We desperately want to attract more counsellors and supervisors so we can help those who are waiting, but all this is dependent on funding and fundraising is becoming more and more difficult in the present economic climate.
“It costs us on average just over £1,000 to take a client through counselling, so the challenges are great. We hope that our partnership during 2018 will not just help us, which it surely will, but that IOP staff will find great satisfaction as we work together. We want to give a final word to one of our former clients, who said: ‘If it wasn’t for places like this, people like me wouldn’t survive. You have helped me deal with suicidal thoughts and to stay alive. Thank you.’”
Since 2012, IOP Publishing has adopted a charity of the year as part of the company’s commitment to the principles of corporate social responsibility, and the company provides fund matching to support staff in raising money for their charity of the year.
Vice-chair of the 2018 charity committee Holly Purcell said: “I am so proud that staff at IOP voted to support this great charity and the work they do to help people rebuild their lives following the trauma of sexual abuse.
“With no statutory funding and an unfortunate rise in the number of people who need their services, the pressure on charities like Kinergy to reach all those who need them, and provide the types of services best suited to them, is getting more and more difficult without private donations.
“It’s really inspiring to know that the money IOP fundraises this year will go towards training more counsellors and helping to raise the profile of the charity. It will enable them to provide the advice and guidance needed to work through the distressing circumstances their clients have endured, and build the strength and coping strategies required to look forward to the future.”