West Mercia rape service yet to receive vital funding from Worcestershire County Council
They had to close the waiting lists to their counselling service in June
Last updated 20th Oct 2021
Survivors of rape and sexual abuse in Worcestershire are still waiting for support as West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse has yet to receive emergency funding from the county council.
The service were forced to close the waiting list to their counselling service on June 30 after running out of funding.
They were handed a lifeline of £220,000 from Herefordshire Council and the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner.
Worcestershire County Council also pledged to provide £100,000 however they have yet to make a decision as to whether that money will be available.
Jocelyn Anderson, CEO of WMRSASC, said: "It's my understanding that although a pot of funding had been identified, no decision had been made whether to give it to us.
"This money will make a huge difference, it's not a quick fix but it will make a dent as we currently have 34 children waiting to receive support in Worcestershire.
"In Herefordshire, we've used the money which means we only have one child waiting and we've significantly reduced the number of adults waiting to receive support."
WMRSASC also hope to reopen their waiting list in Herefordshire soon following the progress they've made with the help from the funding for the county.
The delay in receiving the funding though means people in Worcestershire are going to be waiting longer and the waiting list for the county won't be opened until a short term pot of money is identified.
Jocelyn adds: "It's really interesting that we work as a centre with power and control because rape is about power and control.
"We are very much in the position of powerlessness.
"Because we are waiting for big organisations with money to either support us or not."