Supporting recovery: how increased funding for rape support services will be spent
79 rape and sexual abuse support services across England and Wales have been awarded increased government funding today. This will see funding for rape support services rise to £24 million over 3 years.
We’re proud to be working with all of these amazing services. Hear from some of them below about what this money means to them and the local services they provide.
Survivors Manchester
“In this, our 10th birthday year, we’re delighted to receive this grant. In 10 years, we’ve supported 2,500 male survivors but the past year’s shown a huge increase in requests for help with 2 new referrals coming in every single day.
“This grant will not only allow us to provide 3 therapists and an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor to help meet this unprecedented demand, but also contribute significantly towards our new support centre and enable us to promote our Male Service Standard Quality Assured services to the widest possible communities across Greater Manchester, helping the diverse male population we have here.”
Survivors Manchester is a survivor-led voluntary organisation that aims to create and facilitate a safe space for male survivors of sexual abuse and rape to work through personal and sometimes painful issues.
SV2
“We are delighted to receive this funding from the Ministry of Justice.
“The commitment to three years funding will enable SV2 to establish and maintain a hub in the rural North West of the county from which we can more effectively deliver therapy and Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) services to adults and children in the area.
“This support is vital to many who are often unable to access services to help them to cope and recover from their experience.”
SV2 provides support services to victims of sexual violence, abuse and exploitation across Derbyshire.
Sexual Abuse and Incest Line (SAIL)
“At SAIL we support victims of all genders who are or have been victims of rape, incest and sexual violence.
“This funding is essential to organisations like ours and will allow us to provide specialist support for victims across Derbyshire, helping them to recover and rebuild their lives.”
SAIL offers free, specialist counselling for adults aged 18 and over in Derbyshire who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, incest or sexual violence.
Horizon Sexual Violence Services
“We are delighted to have been awarded this funding for our Horizon Sexual Violence Services. As the demand for our Gwent-wide services continues to rise, this three-year grant will enable us to provide vital support to more victims and survivors of sexual violence, with a focus on expanding our options for holistic support, reducing waiting times and addressing barriers to accessing services.
“With this extra stability and security in place, we can continue to ensure people who have experienced sexual violence are better able to live with the legacy of their abuse and can look to the future more positively.”
Cyfannol’s Horizon sexual violence services offer support to women and men in Gwent who have been victims of rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse.
First Step
“Words can’t describe how much this additional funding will impact on the recovery of sexually abused males across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
“In May 2018 I had the unenviable task of sitting 80 victims who rely on our support down to say that we were facing closure in September. Having secured some small funding from charities and trusts locally, we still needed more to help meet the huge increase in need for the service.
“This funding will allow us to reduce our waiting lists and ensure that the voices of male victims are heard loud and clear, and receive the services they fully deserve.”
First Step provides free confidential services to male survivors of sexual abuse and their supporters living in the city of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicester Rape Crisis
“On behalf of the women and girls in our community who sadly need the services of our organisation, I thank the Ministry of Justice for their funding.
“The funding will enable Leicester Rape Crisis to reduce the number of women on our waiting list and provide quicker access to the specialist counselling that women require. Furthermore, we can increase our geographical reach and support for young girls aged 13+ who need our help.”
Leicester Rape Crisis has been providing support for women in Leicester and County for over 30 years. Among the services offered is tailored support for girls and young women aged 13–19, who have been sexually abused and/or raped.
