I REFER to the story Dorset Rape Crisis victim support centre opens, (Echo, May 4).

This week’s launch was a huge step from the beginning in 1986 when a small group of women met to set up the East Dorset Rape Crisis Line. We started with shared premises with very limited call time, but our great dream was always to have our own “home” with help available. Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch councils gave us financial help, the NHS and social services, and other organisations offered the use of office space and rooms for training, and gradually we were able to offer more listening time and gained respect from other agencies.

I was invited to the launch as a founder member, and was proud and pleased to find how much of our pioneering work is still part of what is on offer. Please remember the small beginnings, and how they have grown.

This week’s launch was part of our dream.

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