News / Safe Link
£1m to be awarded to Safe Link
A charity which provides independent support for survivors of sexual abuse has received funding to continue their important work.
On Monday, Clare Moody, the police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset Police, announced she will recommit to awarding over £1m annually to Safe Link in partnership with One25, a Bristol charity which supports women in street sex work.
Avon and Somerset Police funds Safe Link annually to act as independent sexual violence advisors (ISVAs) for people living in Bath, North Somerset, North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bristol.
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This funding, which includes contributions from the Ministry of Justice, NHS England and Bristol City Council, comes from the PCC’s victim’s services provision.
Clare Moody said she’s “proud to see this partnership setting the stage to deliver real change for survivors” – photo: Clare Moody
Other organisations funded from this provision include Unseen UK, who the police help fund to run a safe house for female survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking, and The Bridge, which offers support to survivors of sexual assault.
Clare Moody said: “Every survivor’s journey is different, and the work of Safe Link and One25 ensures that victims of sexual violence have access to the specialist support they need, when they need it. Services like these are a lifeline, and I’m proud to see this partnership setting the stage to deliver real change for survivors.”
Sarah O’Leary, CEO of Safe Link, said: “Our externally accredited and award-winning ISVA team is proud to have won the recommissioning to continue to deliver ISVA support to adult and child survivors of rape and sexual assault across Avon and Somerset.
In this new partnership, Safe Link Plus, we commit to reaching out to victims from all communities, providing the independent, specialist and compassionate advice and support that they deserve after being subjected to sexual violence.”
There are currently nine ISVAs at Safe Link, five for adults and three for children.
Safe Link also has two sister organisations, Next Link – which provides support for domestic abuse survivors – and Missing Link – a woman-focussed mental health, housing and homelessness charity.
Police service contracts with Safe Link and One25 will start from April 1.
Main photo: Safe Link
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