City supports old phone callout to help domestic violence victims

LOCAL Rotary clubs are partnering with the City of Coffs Harbour (CoCH) to expand the DV Safe Phone support service for victims of domestic violence.

Founded five years ago, the DV Safe Phone charity refurbishes and distributes old mobile phones to help domestic violence victims stay connected, safe, and to move forward in life.

The Coffs Coast community is now being asked to drop off their old phones into collection boxes.

CoCH’s three libraries – the Harry Bailey Memorial at Yarrila Place and the branch facilities at Toormina and Woolgoolga – will become collection points for the old phones.

“Our libraries are a safe, busy and inclusive space for the community so it’s a good fit to have them as collection points,” City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams said.

“It’s been widely reported that domestic violence offenders can use phones to control and track their victims – so providing a fresh, free phone to a victim can help to break that circuit.”

The Coffs City and Woolgoolga Rotary clubs believe the local libraries will be popular collection points.

Further DV Safe Phone collection boxes can be found at The Coffs Hotel, hotels in Emerald Beach, Sawtell and Toormina, The Happy Frog, Sportz Central and SOS Phone Repairs.

Mayor Williams encourages people to put their old phone to good use by dropping it into a collection box so it can be refurbished to support those in need.

The DV Safe Phone charity has provided around 16,000 phones to people who need them to keep in contact with friends, families and support services.

Locally the Coffs City Rotary Club and the Woolgoolga Rotary Club have collected more than 300 old phones and sent them to DV Safe Phone.

This service is an easy way for people with an old mobile phone to give it to a charity, so it can help someone experiencing domestic violence.

By Andrea FERRARI