Delivered Social is proud to announce a new partnership with START (Sexual Trauma & Abuse Restorative Therapies), the Hampshire-based specialist counselling service run by the charity Community First.

Delivered Social will design and build a new website for START as part of Delivered Social Green, its programme providing websites for charities. The new site is due to launch in the coming months.

START offers confidential, specialist counselling and support for anyone who has experienced sexual abuse or sexual assault, whatever their age, gender, sexuality or background. The service brings together two long-standing Hampshire organisations: RASAC, which has supported people since 1995, and BRASACC, founded in 1985.

From its main centre in Winchester and hubs in Andover, Basingstoke and Fleet, START supports people across Test Valley, Winchester, Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Hart and Rushmoor. Alongside counselling from BACP-registered counsellors, the team runs an advice and support line, STEPS peer support groups and therapeutic residential weekends.

The new website will make it easier and safer for people to find help. It will explain clearly what START offers and guide visitors to support quickly and discreetly. It will also help START connect with supporters, fundraisers and the Friends of START.

The partnership builds on Delivered Social‘s existing work with Community First, following the recent launch of the New Forest Young Carers website.

“START does incredibly important work, often for people at the most difficult moment of their lives. For someone taking that first step towards support, the website is often the very first contact they have, so it has to feel safe, calm and easy to use. We’re proud to be working with Community First again and to help START reach more people who need them,” said Jonathan Bird, Founder of Delivered Social.

The new START website is expected to go live later this year.