Blog | Axis Counselling

Dave’s Story

19th November 2019/in News /by Irene

I was brought up in a very loving family and was only slightly aware that others were not so lucky.

As I grew up this awareness increased but it was not until recently that I came to understand how awful a childhood can be.

I met a guy at work who told me of his experiences growing up and how he was abused. This led to an angry confrontational lifestyle, a downward spiral into fighting, physical injuries, drug abuse and massive psychological scars leading to a number of suicide attempts from the age of 7.

Dave told me a small part of his story after it was suggested he share his experiences by the counsellor he sees. Dave started attending Axis Counselling four years ago who have made a massive difference to his life. He now understands his PTSD, its triggers and root causes, and is able to function sociably with the help of the counselling and medication. He is now also in a loving relationship himself.

Without the counselling Dave doesn’t know if he would be with us today.

After hearing Dave’s story, I resolved to undertake the Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge to raise funds for this charity so that Axis Counselling can help other desperate people who are in the position Dave was or have had even worst experiences.

Axis Counselling supports victims of non-recent (historical) Sexual abuse; any form of sexual assault, sexual violence, sexual exploitation or rape. They do this for boys or girls over the age of 5.

If you can afford to sponsor me, I can assure you that the money raised will make a big difference in the well-being of some of the most vulnerable people in society. It will help people understand what has happened to them, that this wasn’t their fault, and give them the ability to cope with their lives and to know that people do care.

To Donate to Dave’s Story: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/davewebbiow

OSWESTRY EMBROIDERERS SEW UP A £400 DONATION!

14th November 2019/in News /by Irene

The Ladies, who form a weekly Embroidery Group at the Oswestry Library – called the Oswestry Border Embroiderers – made Axis their charity for the year. Through their fundraising and membership they were able to raise an initial amount of £400, with additional funds from a sale of items, that were donated by a member of the group, to be received at a later date.

Axis are extremely grateful to the Oswestry Border Embroiderers for raising this money for us. Any donations that we receive, enable us to provide that little bit extra for our clients.

Shaun is Shorn in aid of Axis

9th August 2019/in Uncategorised /by Irene

One of West Mercia Police’s Student Officers PC Shuan Blackshaw recently shaved his head to raise cash for Axis. Axis ISVA Manager, Becky Jones went to meet PC Blackshaw and his fellow Student Officers, to be presented with the donation of £115.00

Axis are extremely grateful to PC Blackshaw for raising this money for us. Any donations that we receive, or monies that are raised for us through sponsorship events, enable us to provide that little bit extra for our clients.

New CEO welcomed

9th July 2019/in News, Uncategorised /by Irene

Truth Project

11th April 2018/in News, Uncategorised /by Simon McCloy

Axis Counselling welcomes Telford and Wrekin Council’s decision to hold an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation (CSE) within the borough. We look forward to working with this inquiry in helping provide victims of CSE with the answers they are seeking, and doing whatever we can to help eliminate this abhorrent crime from our community.

Axis is actively supporting the Truth Project and will also be contributing to the national independent inquiry in every way possible.

The Truth Project have supplied a Truth Project – social media toolkit for use to get the word out to a wider audience and also a useful Copy of Truth Project booklet which if you are a victim of Sexual Abuse and have not talked to anyone about it, the booklet is a good use to gently help you tell your story, without shame or judgement, and where to get support.

Axis Counselling provides Independent Sexual Violence Advisor Services, as well as Counselling – covering the areas of Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire, free to anyone living in the area.

STATEMENT FROM AXIS COUNSELLING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

5th April 2018/in News, Uncategorised /by Simon McCloy

Axis is an entirely independent charity established specifically to help victims of child sex abuse, historic child sex abuse, sexual assault and sexual abuse. Axis is not part of the council, or the police, or any other public body it is a private not for profit company and a registered charity. Axis provided support to over 1,100 individual clients in the last year, over 690 were for counselling support and over 500 used our Independent Sexual Violence Advisory service. The support and services Axis provides are entirely free to the clients and every client is assured that they are given the absolute protection of our strict confidentiality procedures and protocols. This means that Axis is not able to talk in any way about specific cases, or divulge anything that may breach these rules. This makes it very difficult to challenge some of the statements that are being made in the media, or indeed some of the ‘facts’ that are being purported concerning certain individual victims.

To give some perspective, Axis has had 5 victims identified under Operation Chalice referred to us since 2011, most of these actually used and benefited from our support and services. Whilst one victim is one too many in our view, we must not lose sight of the many others we support and continue to support who are not connected with Operation Chalice. Our clients cover a wide age range from 11 to over 65, many have suffered in total silence for many years, and Axis continues to provide a vital support service to them and all victims of sexual violence and sexual abuse.

Axis is funded by a number of sources including the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Ministry of Justice, the Clinical Commissioning Groups in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin, and we receive a small amount of private donations. It is a fact that without the support of the public sector we simply could not provide our services. Would we like more funding? Of course! but then again almost every charity would! In the meantime we must continue to do as much as we possibly we can with the resources we have.

Axis actually welcomes the increased media coverage of the issues not just around child sex abuse but also all other sex crimes as it helps encourage victims to come forward, not be afraid to speak out and know that they will be listened to, believed and supported. Increased awareness also helps authorities identify and prosecute perpetrators.

Axis also welcomes the visit of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse and the Truth Project to Telford, and will be a participant in that process.

Laurie Clarke

CEO. Axis Counselling.

The Truth Project – YOU can take part

3rd April 2018/in News, Uncategorised /by Simon McCloy

The Truth Project is part of an independent national inquiry into childhood sexual abuse and gives victims the chance to have their own input. It will be coming to Telford in the near future to hear from victims and the general public following the recent publicity surrounding the issues of child sexual exploitation in the town.

The experiences of victims and survivors will feed into the recommendations of the Inquiry, with the potential to make real change.

But you don’t have to be from Telford to take part. The links below will put you in touch with the Truth Project where you can have your say.

Hearing from victims and survivors will allow the inquiry to understand the nature and scale of child sexual abuse, and to hear their suggestions for change. It will also help challenge long-held myths about abuse.

More detail about the Truth Project is available on the website https://www.truthproject.org.uk/i-will-be-heard

Run for “tough conversations” – £582 raised

30th October 2017/in News, Uncategorised /by Simon McCloy

A half marathon in a Welsh seaside town was not enough of a challenge for Axis’s sexual violence advisor Sally – she ran the 79 miles to Abersoch to watch the event instead, raising £582 on the way.

Sally is an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) with Axis, a Shrewsbury-based charity which helps survivors of childhood sexual abuse, rape and sexual violence. She helped raise awareness by wearing a T-shirt with the wording “We don’t run away from tough conversations” during her own run.

She hatched the plan with her brother after they both hit milestone birthdays. “We both just like running so we wanted a bit of a challenge and I thought I would raise some money for Axis,” said Sally, who recently turned 30.

A team of supporters accompanied the duo on their 79 mile run from Oswestry to Abersoch with a pick-up truck and supplies in September. “It was really tough, particularly going off road in parts, over some difficult terrain,” she said. “But it felt amazing to achieve it.”

Donations to support Sally can be made at Just Giving.com by following this link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/axiscounselling-sally?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=20170814_94475

Axis achieves PQASSO Level 1

5th April 2017/in News, Uncategorised /by Simon McCloy

Axis has achieved the PQASSO level 1 quality standard award, the leading standard developed for the voluntary sector which shows it provides an effective and efficient high quality user centric service. We believe we may be the first charity in the county to receive the PQASSO level 1 kite mark.

“We don’t know of any other voluntary organisations based in Shropshire who have been awarded this registration,” said Tim O’Shea, Axis chief executive officer.

The charity has its head office in Fletcher House, College Hill, Shrewsbury, and also has a branch at The Glebe in Wellington, Telford. It was set up 23 years ago to help victims of childhood sexual abuse and has offered counselling, help and advice to more than 12,000 people. It has seen a big increase in demand for its services in the years following the Jimmy Savile revelations and Operation Chalice in Telford.

We are not a national charity – we are here for people living in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, and this is a great achievement,” said Mr O’Shea.

“Anyone coming into Axis as a client, working here or considering funding us will know that all our procedures are in a good safe position, our standards are high and we deliver a high quality service.”

“It took 15 months of hard work and preparation by the staff and trustees for the two day inspection. We were very pleased as we went through first time without the need for any corrections,” said Mr O’Shea.

The award lasts for three years. Axis is now hoping to work towards a Level 2 registration in the future.

Irene Ferguson, Axis operations manager, is pictured with the PQASSO certificate.

Dave’s Story

OSWESTRY EMBROIDERERS SEW UP A £400 DONATION!

Shaun is Shorn in aid of Axis

New CEO welcomed

Truth Project

STATEMENT FROM AXIS COUNSELLING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The Truth Project – YOU can take part

Run for “tough conversations” – £582 raised

Axis achieves PQASSO Level 1

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