Representatives from organisations that support the police set up information stalls at the Table View police station last Thursday, but only seven people showed up to find out more about them.
Those taking part included the Table View Community Police Forum, the Table View Neighbourhood Watch, the Film and Publications Board, TLC Outreach Projects, The Milnerton branch of the Department of Social Development, Emergency Services Chaplaincy, the Community Intervention Centre (CIC) and the Living Legends Table View Seniors Club.
Table View police spokeswoman Captain Adriana Chandler, who organised of the event, said she had expected a better turnout.
“The outreach programme is to make residents aware of various organisations in the community that assist the police,” she said.
Jolene Yeo, a volunteer from the Emergency Services Chaplaincy, said they offered prayer and counselling to terminally ill hospital patients, grieving families and police officers who had lost colleagues or witnessed traumatic events.
The volunteers had regular day jobs and did their community work after hours, she said.
During the pandemic, they had had more people asking for help than ever before, she said. Call 082 329 9973 or email info@escsa.org.za for more information.
The CIC is a non-profit organisation that provides 24-hour trauma support and has worked with Milnerton, Table View and Melkbosstrand police stations for the past 21 years, according to its spokeswoman, Daphne Whittaker.
Trained volunteers were called to crime scenes by the police to help the families of crime victims, and the CIC continued to give them counselling and support until it was no longer needed, she said.
For more information on the trauma counselling, victim-support groups, and awareness programmes, call the CIC’s emergency number at 082 821 3447 or the office number at 061 403 5316
The Living Legends Table View Seniors Club was at the outreach programme because it helped elderly people in Table View who were alone and had no one to talk to, said club member Betz Maritz.
“It gives our seniors an opportunity to meet new people and go out on outings. It’s a safe space for friends to become family.”
The club meets at the Blouberg library every Monday from 10.30am until 1pm, and refreshments are served. Membership is R70 a year. The club has an outing on Monday May 23 and its next meeting will be on Monday May 30. Call 073 430 9281.
Welcome Ndegwana, an assistant probation officer from the Department of Social Development’s Milnerton branch, said they were trying to get street children into homes but only after they had first tried to reunite them with their families.
