Organisations providing support for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence are being urged to apply for vital extra funding to expand their work.
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews is inviting providers to bid for additional Ministry of Justice (MoJ) funding worth almost £20m nationally to enhance services.
The MoJ has announced multi-year funding for PCCs between now and 2024-25 to increase the help they offer victims and survivors.
It is part of a plan to boost the number of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) by 1,000 by the end of 2024/25.
In 2022/23 alone, £3.75m is available for the recruitment of 100 additional ISVA/IDVA posts - on top of the £15.7m already ringfenced for domestic abuse and sexual violence services and core funding of £69.1m nationally.
The MoJ has already pledged ringfenced funding worth £27m to recruit and retain 700 ISVA/IDVA posts in 2022/23.
Commissioner Matthews is urging providers to submit an application for additional funding as he prepares to return a detailed needs assessment to the MoJ to secure Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland its fair share of the funding.
He said: "Survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence are among the most vulnerable members of our communities and deserve the best help possible.
"Our support workers work tirelessly to ensure the needs of survivors are met with ample practical and emotional help to fully recover from their experiences. The pandemic has magnified abuse on many levels and encouraged a great number of victims to seek help for the first time - it is imperative we are there for them when they reach out to us.
"Every penny invested in our support services has the potential to change lives and make a difference and I would urge providers of domestic abuse and sexual violence services to take up this opportunity to secure extra financial help to meet the needs of victims and survivors across LLR in the future."
ISVAs provide specialist, bespoke support to victims and survivors of sexual violence, working with individuals who have experienced rape and sexual assault, regardless of whether they have reported the experience to police. They provide impartial information about the options available for victims and survivors such as pre-trial therapy and sexual violence counselling and can sign post them to other help services.
IDVAs address the safety of victims at high risk of harm from domestic abuse to secure their safety and the safety of their children. They will serve as the victim's primary point of contact and work with victims and survivors from the point of crisis to develop and discuss suitable safety planning both in the short and long-term. IDVAs can deliver court support, help within health services, offer housing advice, mediation between clients and services and signposting to other sources of support.
Where new IDVA/ISVA posts are recruited in 22/23, funding will be guaranteed in 23/24 and 24/25.
Providers do no have to be registered as a charity or social enterprise to be eligible for the funding. They must, however, provide support services that help victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse cope with the impacts of crime and support their recovery from the harm they have experienced.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.leics.pcc.police.uk/Planning-and-Money/Commissioning/Current-Funding-Available/Domestic-Abuse-and-Sexual-Violence-Support-Services.aspx
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