Nearly £700,000 For Supporting Victims of Abuse and Violence in Sussex

As Sussex Police report a 6% rise in reports of domestic abuse and sexual violence, emergency government funding has come to many groups helping victims.

According to the Police and Crime Commissioner, whose office administered requests for funding, 21 bids have met the Ministry of Justice’s criteria.

Katy Bourne confirmed the grants today, July 2.

She said the money will be used to help meet additional costs that local charities have incurred during the pandemic and help them prepare and expand their services to cope with the expected influx in referrals as lockdown restrictions continue to loosen. 

In exact figures, Sussex Police recorded 1,688 domestic abuse offences in March and 1,792 offences in May, a 6% increase which was seen as victims feeling more confident in being able to make reports.

£444,406 of the total funding has been awarded to domestic abuse support services across the county which have been funded previously by PCC Katy Bourne. 

For example, Sussex Victim Support has received more than £30,000 in extra income, to appoint and train new victim advocates and to help their current staff work remotely, if needed.

Sussex Area Manager, Kay Birch said:

“As lockdown eases, we are seeing increasing numbers of people seeking help and reporting abuse.

"We had a 13% increase in referrals in just one week in June with around 450 people identified as in need of support.

“Setting up new remote ways of delivering our services and meeting increased demand obviously comes at a cost.

“This funding will enable us to: increase staff and volunteer hours; provide safety equipment such as personal alarms; and purchase the IT essentials we need so that online support can be offered as an option even beyond lockdown.”

The PCC's office said just over £30,000 has also been awarded to a handful of smaller organisations working to support victims of domestic abuse to cope and recover. 

"Off the Fence Trust", a community group from Hove, received a grant of £6,200 to continue their work in reaching out to those at risk of exploitation and abuse through their women’s centre. 

Their Gateway Women’s Centre manager, Gen Fox said:

“Since lockdown we have seen incidences of emotional and physical abuse rising and isolation is preventing many of them from seeking help. 

"This crucial funding will enable us to purchase essential communications equipment to bridge this gap and provide travel funding so that we can increase our ‘on the doorstep’ work.”

The PCC and local support services also sounded concerns that reports of sexual offences could rise in the near future, as lockdown restrictions loosen further with pubs and other night-time economy venues opening up again for the first time in over 3 months.

The remaining £216,082 has been shared between six charities working with victims of sexual violence.

They range from specialist services trained to help victims of child sexual exploitation and their families, to a service with the aim of eradicating the stigma placed on male victims of sexual assault. 

Lifecentre have been awarded £160,000 of this to continue providing counselling services for all victims of sexual assault and additional assessments for children who are currently on a waiting list. 

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne added: 

“Many of our local support services have struggled financially through lockdown, having to rapidly adapt their services to ensure help remains available for those in need. 

“We are already seeing more people coming forward for help and, as lockdown restrictions loosen further, we must prepare to receive an even greater influx. 

“This money will help local organisations to recoup and expand their services so they can continue to provide vital support to our most vulnerable."

The PCC added that any victim of crime can find details of help and support on the Safe Space Sussex website: www.safespacesussex.org.uk.