The Committee sought funding from the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) and an initial sum was received. Part of this sum was used to engage the services of Mrs. Ann Sparks who at the time was in charge of the Crisis Centre at the St. Vincent Hospital, New York. Ms. Sparks provided a week of training for the original members subsequent to the first training course, a Hotline service was organized. This service operated three nights per week for three hours 6:00- 9:00 p.m. at the Catholic Centre, a Roman Catholic establishment which accommodates support services of the Roman Catholic Church.

  [Top]

The Rape Crisis Centre however, remained nonpartisan. The space was provided by the Catholic Church free of rental. This completed phase one of the projected plans of the Rape Crisis Centre. Phase two became operational in August, 1985 with the employment of a full time Co-ordinator. In November of the same year a Counselor was employed and the counseling services were extended to 8:00 am -4:00 p.m. walk-in service. The Committee then concentrated on other areas of concern which were:

Face to face and group counseling which aimed to empower men, women and children out of and beyond existing conflictive and crisis circumstances, restoring levels of confidence and self-esteem to clients.

In 1986 the Rape Crisis Centre sought legal advice to develop a Constitution and registration as a charitable organization. The Constitution was adopted in 1986, and in November, 1986 the organization was legally registered. It was henceforth referred to as the Rape Crisis Society of Trinidad and Tobago.

[Top]