CHARITIES supporting victims of sexual offences in Warwickshire are to benefit from extra funding to support a critical part of their work, Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe has confirmed.
A bid for funding to the Ministry of Justice has been accepted in full, meaning four additional independent sexual violence advisors (ISVAs) will be employed in the county to help meet an expected upsurge in demand from victims as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown period.
The Commissioner’s office put in bids on behalf of local charities RoSA (Rape or Sexual Abuse Support) and Safeline when the Ministry of Justice announced a £3million national fund earlier this year.
The successful award of more than £240,000 means that the charities will be able to each employ two additional ISVAs across Warwickshire. The funding covers the remainder of 2020/21 and 2021/22.
ISVAs work with people who have experienced sexual violence to get them access to the services they need.
They provide impartial advice on all the options available such as reporting to police, the criminal justice process, accessing sexual assault referral centres (SARCs), seeking support from specialist sexual violence organisations and other services such as housing or benefits.
Warwickshire PCC Seccombe said: “I am grateful to the Ministry of Justice for funding our submission in full. We have gained around eight percent of the funding available nationally, which is a considerable proportion for a county of our size and reflects the high quality of the submission we made on RoSA and Safeline’s behalf.
“It comes at a critical time with lockdown restrictions easing, allowing more victims better opportunity to seek help and support. Some will have spent the lockdown period living with the offenders and it is widely expected that there will be an increase of reports to the police and to charities like RoSA and Safeline over the coming months.”
For more information about the work of ISVAs or for free and confidential help and support, visit: rosasupport.org/]rosasupport.org and www.safeline.org.uk]www.safeline.org.uk
