Government announce £3.5 million to help sexual violence charities in the South West
12 charities in our region are receiving a share of the cash as part of the Government's Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund
Charities supporting victims of sexual violence in the South West are getting extra funding from the government.
In all, 12 charities across our region are to benefit from the cash, which is part of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund.
It's part of the Government's commitment to quadruple funding for victims by 2025 across the country, compared to 2010 levels.
Here in the South West, projects set to be funded for the next two years include:
- From the First Light South West group bid - Operation Emotion; MoMENtum; Survivors Alliance North Devon
- From the CLEAR group bid - Devon Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Services; The Women's Centre Cornwall; The Olive Project
- From the Avon and Somerset Rape and Sexual Abuse Support group bid - The Green House; Kinergy; Safe Link
- STARS Dorset
- Revival Wiltshire, whose support includes specialist trauma focused 1:1 counselling
- Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, who provide emotional and practical support to survivors of rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse
The news comes as new figures show the Government has achieved its third and final ambition in its landmark End-to-End Rape Review 18 months ahead of target - restoring Crown Prosecution Service charges to 2016 levels.
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Chalk KC, said: “I am pleased that all three 2021 Rape Review ambitions have been met so far ahead of schedule. There is more work to do, but this milestone demonstrates real progress in strengthening justice for victims of these appalling crimes.
“This continued funding means we can continue our work to ensure victims of sexual abuse across the South West receive the support that is so vital to recovery.”
Victims have benefitted from funded support services for over 10 years thanks to the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund, which was recently extended as one of the commitments in the Government’s Rape Review.
The fund was informed by rape victims to better understand their experiences and what they want from support services, helping to inform the commissioning of future support for victims.
Across the country, 62 grants have been awarded to organisations which offer counselling and therapeutic services, advocacy, outreach, and group activities.
Minister for Victims at the Ministry of Justice, Ed Argar, said: “We are determined that, alongside this Government's clear focus and progress on ensuring more criminals who commit rape and sexual offences face justice, victims and survivors of these dreadful crimes get the support they need.
“The funding announced today helps ensure that charities and organisations up and down the country are able to continue doing their vital work helping victims of these crimes."
'These vital funds will allow our partnership to thrive'
Claire Bloor, CEO of the Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support, said: “SARSAS in partnership with The Green House, Kinergy and Safelink, are specialists in delivering expert support to victims/survivors grounded in and led by the experience of people with lived experience. We are thrilled to have secured funding via the MOJ’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund.
"These vital funds will allow our partnership to thrive, funding us to deliver trauma-informed, inclusive, and accessible services for survivors of all ages and genders across the region. Our services listen, believe and support, providing safe environments that prevent re-traumatisation where victims-survivors can safely disclose, explore, and understand their experience, enabling them to recover and progress in their lives.”
Published today, CPS data shows charges for adult rape cases increased to 567 in the latest quarter, (January – March 2023).
That's 5% over the 2016 quarterly average and Rape Review ambition of 538.
This means the Government has already met all 3 key ambitions in the Rape Review ahead of schedule – restoring the number of police referrals, CPS charges and cases reaching court to 2016 levels.
In July all 43 police forces across England and Wales, and all rape prosecutors across the country, began implementing a new approach to dealing with rape and other serious sexual offences, ensuring forces conduct thorough investigations which put the focus on the suspect and centre the rights and needs of victims.
This new approach, developed through Operation Soteria and previously piloted in 19 police forces and 9 Crown Prosecution Service Areas, uses academic evidence and insight to enable forces and prosecutors to transform their response to rape and serious sexual offences.
The Rape Review progress report published last month shows improvements have been made in response to rape across every stage of the criminal justice system and, crucially, data suggests more and more victims are reporting these abhorrent crimes to the police – demonstrating an increase in victim confidence.
Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said: “Rape is an abhorrent crime and this government has not shied away from the fact that that victims of sexual violence have been failed by the criminal justice system.
“I have been clear that we must transform the way these investigations are handled, to make sure that all victims have the best support possible throughout the entire process. That is why we have funded an ambitious programme, Operation Soteria, to transform the way that rape investigations and prosecutions are handled and progressed. All 43 police forces and all CPS areas across England and Wales are implementing the new National Operating Models developed through the programme.
“Alongside the £26m announced today, I have given over £8 million to support police forces keep improving their response to rape and the service they provide to victims, ensuring investigations focus on the suspect, and never on seeking to undermine the account of the victim.”
A £1.2 million training programme has also been launched for Independent Sexual Violence and Domestic Abuse Advisors who provide emotional and practical support to victims.
The Government says it is funding 1,000 of these posts and the training to make sure these vulnerable victims get better help and stay engaged with the criminal justice system.
To find out about helplines in your region, visit the NHS Website.