RAPE and sexual abuse victims across Warwickshire could get more support thanks to almost £1million in funding.
Two pivotal organisations have won a share of the government’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund.
Safeline and RoSA have been awarded a combined total of £925,508 between now and March 2025. The cash will help them continue their work providing trauma-informed support to victims and survivors impacted by all forms of sexual violence and abuse.
The two Warwickshire bids were among 62 across England and Wales to be supported in the latest round of RASASF awards, which comes as part of a government pledge to quadruple funding for victims by 2025.
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: “There can be few crimes more traumatic for victims than sexual violence and abuse, so it is vital that high-quality support is available in Warwickshire to help victims cope and recover, whether or not they report the incident to the police.
“This is a significant investment in the support of victims of rape and sexual abuse in Warwickshire and it will make a real difference to the lives of those who need it most.”
Neil Henderson, CEO of Safeline, continued: “The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund provides vital funding for Safeline to provide specialist support to victims and survivors throughout Warwickshire. The funding awarded will help us to continue our work providing specialist and trauma-informed support to victims and survivors impacted by all forms of sexual violence and abuse.”
And Julie Bettelley, CEO of RoSA, added: “This is fantastic news for RoSA. The funding enables us to continue our vital support for survivors of sexual abuse and violence, regardless of age or gender, across all communities in Warwickshire.
“Taking the step to seek help requires immense bravery and ensuring survivors’ access to support whenever they need it stands as our top priority. RoSA’s dedication to providing comprehensive and tailored services for survivors remains unwavering. Our community-centred approach allows us to extend our reach, providing children, young people and adults the opportunity to seek support whenever the need arises.”
The latest RASASF awards come in addition to other funding made available by the Police and Crime Commissioner to support victims, including the county-wide Sexual Abuse and Violence Support Service commissioned from Safeline and separate funding for the Blue Sky Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Nuneaton.
