At 9pm on Sunday 27th February 2011 the Bristol Crisis Service for Women closed its helpline for the last time. The helpline has been supporting women in emotional distress for 23 years. It was the first national helpline to focus on this issue at a time when there was little awareness and understanding of self-injury.
"We are very sad to see this day come. We were hoping that we would be able to generate funds to keep the helpline going, but unfortunately we haven't been able to achieve this. We are hoping to raise funds in the future but it seems particularly difficult in today's ecomonic climate." Hilary Lindsay, Director.
The helpline was set up in 1986 soon after BCSW was established. The organisation became aware very quickly that a service was required where women could talk about an issue that at the time was stigmatised by very negative and judgemental attitudes. Today, although there is greater understanding of the issue, the need for the helpline still exists as much as ever with callers struggling to get through on some nights.
The closure is especially difficult for the volunteers and staff who have worked so hard on the helpline over the years. The commitment of the volunteers earned them and other volunteers at BCSW the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in October 2010, the equivalent of the MBE for voluntary services.
Lastly and most importantly we are very sorry to our callers that we haven't been able to keep the helpline running.