Debate contribution: Nexus: 40th Anniversary

Debate contribution by Mrs Linda Dillon on 9 December 2024.

MLA

Mrs Linda Dillon

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

9 December 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Nexus: 40th Anniversary

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4698767

Read the official Assembly record

Text

First, I am proud to be one of those who tabled the motion. I thank the chairperson of the Women's Caucus for proposing it. It is an important motion, and it is well worth discussing here today. I hope that we do not have to appeal to Members in the Chamber to support the motion. Given the conversations and debates that have taken place over the past while, it should be a given, but we can take nothing as a given. We are here to acknowledge and thank all those who have volunteered and worked with Nexus over the past 40 years. Since its inception in 1984, Nexus has been a source of hope and healing for countless individuals across the North and has provided essential individual support to those affected by sexual abuse and abusive relationships. Over the past four decades, Nexus has grown from being a small, volunteer-led initiative in south Belfast to a regional organisation that offers specialised counselling and educational services for adults, children and young people throughout our community. Nexus's unwavering commitment to early intervention and prevention through educational training and workshops has been instrumental in fostering awareness and understanding of those deeply challenging issues. Despite its invaluable contributions, as has been outlined by the previous Member who spoke, Nexus has faced significant challenges, particularly with funding. In March 2024, the charity announced the cessation of its free specialist adult counselling service due to funding cuts, which impacted over 800 individuals on its waiting list. Additionally, in December 2023, funding constraints forced Nexus to halt support for children aged four to seven and to pause services for more than 60 young people aged eight to 16. Behind all those statistics is a victim — a human being — and, in that case, it means more than 60 children who are victims of abuse. If we do not ensure support for those children at the right time, when they need and want it, the chances of good life outcomes for them reduce significantly, and that is a cost to all of us. It is a cost, first, to that child and their life. It is a cost to their family, and it is a cost to society. We will pay the price for that further down the line. We must support those who want to support our most vulnerable children. The disruptions highlight the critical need for a consistent and reliable funding model that truly understands and addresses the trauma experienced by survivors. The withdrawal and subsequent reinstatement of funds not only hinder the delivery of essential services but exacerbate the distress of those seeking support. It is imperative that we establish a funding framework that ensures uninterrupted access to specialised services and enables organisations such as Nexus to focus on their vital work without the constant threat of funding being withdrawn. In reaffirming our commitment to combating all forms of sexual abuse and abusive relationships, we must also pledge to support the sustainability of services that aid survivors. That includes advocating funding models that are not only adequate but stable and reflective of the profound impact of trauma on individuals and communities. That is why we must continue to push forward the strategic framework to end violence against women and girls, which focuses on prevention, early intervention and support for victims. That aligns with the mission of organisations such as Nexus. The most dangerous place in western Europe for women and children is in the North, in their home, at the hands of a male family member: not a stranger; not somebody who came from somewhere else. It is somebody whom you know and who, you thought, loved you. By ensuring consistent funding and support for these initiatives, we can work towards a safer and more equitable society for all. I commend the remarkable efforts of Nexus over the past 40 years, and, most importantly, I think of all the victims and survivors who have used Nexus's services. I hope that it has helped them to have much better outcomes in their lives, the lives of their families and the lives of all those who come after them, because we know that this is a trans-generational issue.

702 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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