Funding secured for support services for domestic abuse and male rape victims

Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones is pleased to announce that additional funding has been secured to support victims of sexual crime and domestic abuse.

In June, Police and Crime Commissioners were invited to collate bids for two national pots of funding, the Critical Support Fund for community-based sexual violence and domestic abuse support, and the Male Rape Support Fund.

Commissioner Jones said: “Domestic abuse and rape are crimes that cause immense harm to the victim. We need to ensure that we are doing everything we can to ensure that access to the right help and support is available for all victims no matter their gender or where their need for support is first identified. The money that has been awarded through these two government funds will help to meet increasing demand and to reduce disparities in service.”

Critical Support Fund

The aim of this funding is to meet any exceptional or additional need to support victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse that cannot be met through existing allocations.

The YOU Trust have been awarded £23,001 for the 2021/22 financial year and £36,750 for the 2022/23 financial year for a Health Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (Health IDVA).

The new post will create additional capacity for the IDVA team which has seen an increase in referrals. The Health IDVA will work exclusively with health and clients presenting at both hospital and GP settings. Clients presenting at health are under reported, which means they are not always offered the same service as those seen, for instance by the police, where a clear referral pathway has been developed. The Health IDVA will work effectively with health colleagues meaning the client has the right holistic care and support pathway.

Male Rape Support Fund

Year on year, more male survivors of rape have the confidence to come forward and report to the police, and men are increasingly seeking support from voluntary sector services.

Nationally the proportion of police recorded sexual offences committed against males was 15.5% for the year ending March 2021.

The aim of the Male Rape Support fund is to ensure specialist sexual violence services are equipped to deliver quality services that meet the specific needs of men and boys, and can respond to demand arising as a result of the pandemic.
Three organisation were successful in securing funding to provide specialist support to male victims who have experienced rape or sexual abuse:

• The YOU Trust have been allocated £35,525
• Yellow Door have been allocated £20,897
• Community First have been allocated £22,266