[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the events that took place in Bushey on 9th July. We know there will be friends and neighbours who have been directly impacted by this tragedy. Support, advice and guidance is available through the Hertfordshire Beacon Victim Care Centre. Please do contact us if you would like to explore support options.
KNOW WHAT POSITION WE
WOULD BE IN NOW.”
DO NOT KNOW WHY I
WAS ATTACKED, I WAS
WORRIED THEY WOULD
STRIKE AGAIN.”
VICTIM OF RAPE, LET ALONE
HAVE TO COPE WITH THE
ABUSER WALKING AWAY
UNPUNISHED.”
VICTIM, BUT NOW I FEEL
LIKE A SURVIVOR.”
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE
TUNNEL, IT PUT AN END TO
MY DARKEST HOUR.”
YOUR OWN, BUT NOTHING
PREPARED ME FOR MY OWN
DAUGHTER COMMITTING
FRAUD AGAINST ME.”
Download Now
https://player.vimeo.com/video/424017945
DAVID & JANET’S STORY
CLOSE
https://player.vimeo.com/video/432444033
KRIS’S STORY
CLOSE
TOM’S STORY
CLOSE
I did not expect to be attacked on my doorstep. I did not see who did it as they came from behind me. My neighbour believes I was attacked with hammers which accounted for severe injuries I suffered. Living alone I was really worried that whoever did this would return.
Although I knew the physical scars would heal the emotional impact was far greater.
Why did they attack me? Will they return? Can I ever leave my house?
I was becoming paranoid. Beacon helped me through my anxiety and managed to get me support through the NHS to deal with my paranoia.
Beacon liaised with police on my behalf and even helped with my application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
Why did they attack me? Will they return? Can I ever leave my house?
I was becoming paranoid. Beacon helped me through my anxiety and managed to get me support through the NHS to deal with my paranoia.
Beacon liaised with police on my behalf and even helped with my application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
They also provided me with a personal attack alarm so that in the days following the attack I could go outside and feel secure.
I have few friends but with Beacon I never felt alone. My Beacon Support Worker has been a great help and I really appreciated what they did for me.
I have few friends but with Beacon I never felt alone. My Beacon Support Worker has been a great help and I really appreciated what they did for me.
JANE’S STORY
CLOSE
My daughter had been raped by a relative. The impact on the family was devastating. It was only as the police investigation was taking place that my younger son became aware of what ‘rape’ was and became very distressed.
My daughter was getting flashbacks of what had happened and could not concentrate at college. Nothing however prepared us for the outcome at court, where a ‘not guilty’ verdict was returned. We were devastated. The case itself was investigated by a police force outside of Hertfordshire so we had not been advised of what was available through Beacon and felt let down that we had not been prepared for the possibility of a verdict different to what we had expected.
We were shocked. Fortunately a local organisation told us about Beacon and we self-referred. They immediately appreciated the complexities of having different people in the family being affected in different ways and our assigned Beacon Support Worker ensured that each of us received support separately to one another with each session tailored to our needs. I am so proud of my daughter, who did not want to dwell on the past rape, but focus on the verdict and how this made her feel.
Beacon worked with both my children around making self-care plans for what to do when they were not feeling their best emotionally, which included calming breathing exercises and different coping strategies. Beacon also worked with my daughter around her confidence, and how she felt about her future after the crime, emphasising that although it takes time to heal, the crime would not take over the rest of her life. My daughter really took to this and has started to focus on the future. Beacon also went through a few helpful children’s books with my son that helped explain his emotions and how to cope with them in a more understandable way for him.
As a family, we still have good days and bad days but we can manage these and know that Beacon will always be there for us. What really helped in our situation is that our Beacon Support Worker was young and someone my daughter and son could relate to.
It is as if we had two Beacon Support Worker for the price of one.
that we had not been prepared for the possibility of a verdict different to what we had expected.
We were shocked. Fortunately a local organisation told us about Beacon and we self-referred. They immediately appreciated the complexities of having different people in the family being affected in different ways and our assigned Beacon Support Worker ensured that each of us received support separately to one another with each session tailored to our needs. I am so proud of my daughter, who did not want to dwell on the past rape, but focus on the verdict and how this made her feel.
Beacon worked with both my children around making self-care plans for what to do when they were not feeling their best emotionally, which included calming breathing exercises and different coping strategies. Beacon also worked with my daughter around her confidence, and how she felt about her future after the crime, emphasising that
We were shocked. Fortunately a local organisation told us about Beacon and we self-referred. They immediately appreciated the complexities of having different people in the family being affected in different ways and our assigned Beacon Support Worker ensured that each of us received support separately to one another with each session tailored to our needs. I am so proud of my daughter, who did not want to dwell on the past rape, but focus on the verdict and how this made her feel.
Beacon worked with both my children around making self-care plans for what to do when they were not feeling their best emotionally, which included calming breathing exercises and different coping strategies. Beacon also worked with my daughter around her confidence, and how she felt about her future after the crime, emphasising that
although it takes time to heal, the crime would not take over the rest of her life. My daughter really took to this and has started to focus on the future. Beacon also went through a few helpful children’s books with my son that helped explain his emotions and how to cope with them in a more understandable way for him.
As a family, we still have good days and bad days but we can manage these and know that Beacon will always be there for us. What really helped in our situation is that our Beacon Support Worker was young and someone my daughter and son could relate to.
It is as if we had two Beacon Support Workers for the price of one.
As a family, we still have good days and bad days but we can manage these and know that Beacon will always be there for us. What really helped in our situation is that our Beacon Support Worker was young and someone my daughter and son could relate to.
It is as if we had two Beacon Support Workers for the price of one.
CLAIRE’S STORY
CLOSE
One evening a complete stranger approached me, grabbed my bottom and made inappropriate comments.
I was very upset and unsure what to do as I am transgender and identify as female. I told my parents in the hope they could provide advice and support. Although they were accepting of my transition, rather than helping, they told other people about what had happened. This upset me deeply and I felt ridiculed. I was a victim of a crime but somehow had become a figure of gossip and no longer in control of what was being said about me. Anytime I attempted to raise how I felt with my parents it just ended in arguments.
There appeared to be no way out, I had no support and was lost. I no longer believed in myself and wanted it all to end. I even contemplated suicide. I contacted Beacon who from the outset were accepting and welcoming.
They set out a range of options for me to consider and provided me with some coping mechanisms. My Beacon Support Worker arranged weekly telephone calls so that I could at least confide in someone.
They provided information around housing so I would no longer be dependent on my parents and also helped me write a letter to them as I felt unable to speak directly with them. I have come out of this emotionally stronger and now believe in myself and my abilities. I am more optimistic about the future. I cannot thank Beacon enough for all they did for me.
They were there for me during my darkest time.
of gossip and no longer in control of what was being said about me. Anytime I attempted to raise how I felt with my parents it just ended in arguments.
There appeared to be no way out, I had no support and was lost. I no longer believed in myself and wanted it all to end. I even contemplated suicide. I contacted Beacon who from the outset were accepting and welcoming.
They set out a range of options for me to consider and provided me with some coping mechanisms. My Beacon Support Worker arranged weekly telephone calls so that I could at least confide in someone.
They provided information around housing so I would no longer be dependent on my parents and also helped me write a letter to them as I
There appeared to be no way out, I had no support and was lost. I no longer believed in myself and wanted it all to end. I even contemplated suicide. I contacted Beacon who from the outset were accepting and welcoming.
They set out a range of options for me to consider and provided me with some coping mechanisms. My Beacon Support Worker arranged weekly telephone calls so that I could at least confide in someone.
They provided information around housing so I would no longer be dependent on my parents and also helped me write a letter to them as I
felt unable to speak directly with them. I have come out of this emotionally stronger and now believe in myself and my abilities. I am more optimistic about the future. I cannot thank Beacon enough for all they did for me.
They were there for me during my darkest time.
They were there for me during my darkest time.
JUNE’S STORY
CLOSE
I had been in hospital for some time and when I returned home I found that £10,000 worth of unauthorised transactions had been taken from my bank account. Soon after I was readmitted to hospital and on my discharge, noticed that a further £5,000 had been taken from my bank account.
I reported the losses to Action Fraud.
I did not realise that Beacon is notified of Hertfordshire victims by Action Fraud and was contacted by Clive, a Beacon Support Worker at Beacon. Clive took the time to help me piece together what may have happened when I was in hospital. He noticed that my daughter had access to my account and was liaising with her, as the bank was insisting that the withdrawals were down to me. I was too upset to get involved and worried that this might keep happening to me. Clive reassured me and continued to advise my daughter suggesting that we should approach the financial ombudsmen if the matter remained unresolved. Clive was concerned that there were aspects of the fraud that appeared to be connected to someone who had ready access to my account and persuaded me to report the crimes directly to Hertfordshire Police.
Following a complex investigation it was found that the fraud was being perpetrated by my daughter.
Clive, a Beacon Support Worker at Beacon. Clive took the time to help me piece together what may have happened when I was in hospital. He noticed that my daughter had access to my account and was liaising with her, as the bank was insisting that the withdrawals were down to me. I was too upset to get involved and worried that this might keep happening to me. Clive reassured me and continued to advise my daughter suggesting that we should approach the financial ombudsmen if the matter remained unresolved. Clive was concerned that there were aspects of the fraud that appeared to be connected to someone who had ready access to my account and persuaded me to report the crimes directly to Hertfordshire Police.
Following a complex investigation it was found that the fraud was being perpetrated by my daughter.
Following a complex investigation it was found that the fraud was being perpetrated by my daughter.
As you might imagine I was shocked but at the same time did not want to see my daughter prosecuted through the courts. Beacon advocated on my behalf and liaised with the police and advised me about alternative ways to seek justice, such as restorative justice. My daughter knew she had done wrong and I was happy with a formal apology. Beacon arranged this and also put in place safeguards so that my daughter can no longer gain access to my account.
I am 80 years of age and don’t want to be on my own so it is good that myself and my daughter are still speaking and on good terms. I was in a haze at the time but can see things so much more clearly now thanks to Beacon.
I am 80 years of age and don’t want to be on my own so it is good that myself and my daughter are still speaking and on good terms. I was in a haze at the time but can see things so much more clearly now thanks to Beacon.