The Office of Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner has joined a prestigious group of charities chosen to receive Home Office funding to improve services for child sex abuse victims.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) will receive £205,000 over two years to enhance services helping children and young people recover from sexual abuse.
It joins just five other organisations – including large national charities such as the NSPCC and Barnardo’s – to secure a share of the £2.8m Government fund.
Funding will be used to develop tailored support for groups who traditionally face additional barriers to asking for support. These include male abuse victims and victims from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.
To reduce the impact of child sex abuse, resources will be produced to support the wider family unit, including parents of children affected.
The programme will also attempt to bridge the gap between young victims and the police. This will be done by recruiting a specialist worker and by supporting young people as they move into adult support services.
Virtual workshops will be held for agencies working with vulnerable people, to ensure the impact of the investment is realised in the long-term.
Acting Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Oldroyd said: “I’m delighted that we’ve joined such a prestigious group of organisations to secure this funding.
“In a recent a consultation we conducted, 9 in 10 respondents wanted to see more investment in recovery services for children who have suffered exploitation and sexual abuse.
“This funding will allow us to work with organisations in Cleveland to tailor services to address the needs of male and BAME victims, develop resources for families affected by child sexual abuse and secure long-term results for victims as they enter adulthood.”
The OPCC will work with local organisations Arch Teesside, A Way Out, Barnardo’s, Eva Women’s Aid and Halo to deliver the programme before March 2022.
Local charities Arch Teesside and EVA Women’s Aid will be working to develop resources for the relatives of victims.
Eva Chief Executive Officer, Richinda Taylor, said: “We are delighted at EVA to be working with the OPCC and Arch on this project, and believe we are creating a really innovative programme to help support the families impacted by sexual violence, which will enable them to better understand and support the survivor “
Arch Teesside Chief Executive Officer Nicky Harkin, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with EVA Women’s Aid to develop a programme for parents and families.
“When abuse comes to light it can trigger a crisis in the family and this funding will give us the scope to ensure that families are supported at this crucial time to understand and respond to their children’s needs”