RISE, the Sussex-based charity which provides vital support to people affected by domestic abuse and violence, is the latest local good-cause to receive a donation from the Albion As One fund.
The campaign, which was launched by the club’s Premier League squad, has raised more than £300,000, and charities across Sussex have been receiving donations to help support their important work throughout the Covid-19 crisis.
RISE is one of the charities to receive funding from the Albion As One campaign and the money donated to RISE will go a long way to replacing some of the income the charity has missed out on in recent weeks after having to cancel key fundraising events.
It will also help RISE meet the additional costs required to adapt its services during the pandemic – such as investing in new IT equipment to support remote working and providing additional staff for its helpline.
The donation could not have come at a more vital time. Incidents of domestic abuse have been increasing during lockdown, as people are isolating in close proximity and are under increasing amounts of financial and emotional stress. As a result, RISE has seen a week-on-week increase in calls to its helpline.
Jo Gough, chief executive officer at RISE, explained, “Covid-19 has hit RISE doubly hard – not only have we had to cancel some of our major fundraising events, such as our annual Heroes Run and the Mayor’s gala dinner, but we are experiencing an unprecedented increase in demand for our services
“We are incredibly grateful to the players and staff for choosing to support RISE at this critical time, as we remain determined to keep our vital services running in the most difficult time in our history.”
For more information on RISE, visit: www.riseuk.org.uk.
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic abuse or violence, call RISE helpline on 01273 622828 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm). Outside of those hours, please call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Please remember: you are not alone.