A new countywide service launching today (5 October) in Staffordshire will help victims of sexual assault and abuse – and their family members and partners – recover from the impact of the crime and cope with the harm they have experienced.
Survive, the Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse Service, provides free tailored, confidential and effective support for victims, from reporting the crime or recognising they need support, to exiting the service.
Victims can seek support whether they report the crime to the police or not. Services include a local helpline, counselling and a specialist support and advocacy service for victims, as well as support for close family members and significant others.
The free service has been commissioned by Staffordshire Commissioner Matthew Ellis with an investment of £300,000 per year for the next two years, and is delivered by Staffordshire Women’s Aid.
Staffordshire County Council also provided £20,000 per year towards the service and supported the commissioning process.
Deputy Staffordshire Commissioner Sue Arnold, who leads on the victims portfolio on behalf of the Commissioner, said: ‘The new Survive service makes it easier for victims of sexual assault and abuse across Staffordshire to get the specialist support they need to enable them to cope and recover.
‘It places victims right at the heart of the criminal justice process and ensures they and their families are supported at every stage – emotionally, practically and in a way that is tailored to their individual circumstances.’
Survive is accessible, simple to navigate and prevents victims having to repeat their story on multiple occasions. The service is open to males and females from the age of four, and offers:
- A ‘cope and recover’ specialist support and advocacy service for victims, including tailored advice, guidance, information, practical and emotional support and group work
- A counselling service for victims to support empowerment, resilience, risk reduction and recovery
- A support service for victims’ close family members and significant others
- Geographically based staff to ensure coverage across the county
- Onward referrals to other specialist support agencies.
Dickie James, Chief Executive of Staffordshire Women’s Aid, said: ‘Research shows that victims of sexual assault and abuse often feel isolated, and find it difficult to access the specialist help they need and deserve, when they need it.
‘This service will work to let victims and their loved ones across Staffordshire know that they are not alone, and that they can get help quickly. A range of specialist support will work to help them through the trauma they have experienced, understand their rights as victims, and recover at their own pace.
‘We are so very pleased to be taking this service forward, working alongside the commissioners and other partners across Staffordshire to reach out to victims and their loved ones.’
The service will operate across Staffordshire (not including Stoke-on-Trent) for two years, with an opportunity for a further two 12-month extensions after this.
Supporting Victims and Witnesses is one of five key priorities included within the Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime’s Safer, Fairer and United Communities Strategy (2017-2020).
If you would like to talk to someone about accessing the Survive service, or would like to make a referral, please call the 24-hour helpline on 0300 330 5959 or email referrals@staffordshirewomensaid.org.
