The Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre (CINC) has started raising funds to create a domestic violence crisis centre in Cowra.
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On June 30, CINC will be holding a pop-up store, selling pre-loved clothes with all of the profits going towards the crisis centre.
CINC CEO Fran Stead said they had dealt with a high number of family violence cases in 2017 and believes it is crucial to get a crisis centre up and running in Cowra.
“This is something we have spoken about for years and when we looked at our own family support figures for family violence at the end of 2017, we thought enough is enough, it is time for action,” she said.
“Domestic violence (DV) happens every day and this crisis centre can help get our local families suffering from DV back on their feet.”
Based on CINC’s figures alone, of the 187 families utilising the organisation’s family support services, 83 were affected by some form of family violence.
23 out of 62 young people who use CINC’s services were also affected by DV.
CINC is looking at a goal of $1 million dollars to get the centre up and running, with Fran hoping to find a prevention rather than cure to break the cycle of domestic violence in Cowra.
“We are still working on the exact model that we will go with, as we are after more long-term fix, rather than just a crisis bed,” she said.
“It will not be easy, but we are here for the long haul.
“This is a big job and it needs baby steps, as we are looking at a goal of $1,000,000, and we have to start somewhere.”
Fran said the community interest and donations of clothes coming in has been “mind blowing”.
“When the community start to back what you want to do, you realise it is the time to step up to the challenge,” she said.
“Projects like this can only achieve the outcome when we all come together and acknowledge we have a problem.”
Fran said CINC are now in the process of finding a partner and securing more funding.
“When we have a few more bits in concrete we will hold a community consultation, as we are for the whole community, it is important people take an interest in what we are doing,” she said.
For more information, visit CINC’s Facebook page.