Enhanced support for young victims of sexual violence

POLICE and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite has today announced a new partnership with a locally-based national charity to improve the services available for young victims of sexual violence.

POLICE and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite has today announced a new partnership with a locally-based national charity to improve the services available for young victims of sexual violence.

The Commissioner and Embrace Child Victims of Crime (CVOC) will be jointly funding a dedicated counselling post to help young victims cope and recover from their experience.

Police and Crime Commissioners became responsible for commissioning local support services for victims of crime in 2014.

The Counsellor will be based at The Elms, Cambridgeshire’s new Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon.

The new facility provides a dedicated service to all victims of sexual assault, whether they want to report to police or not. It provides victims with a safe place to receive medical aftercare, forensic examinations, support, and to anonymously report sexual assaults.

Embrace Child Victims of Crime (CVOC) is the only national children’s charity that is solely focussed on helping young victims of crime to recover from their ordeals, providing practical and emotional support up to the age of 18 years.

Chief Executive, Anne Campbell said:

"This post is a great example of partnership working between those responsible for victims' services in the country and a charitable organisation. We’re excited at the potential to deliver counselling to children and young people who have suffered the most serious crimes and are in most need of therapeutic support.”

Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite said: “I am really pleased that we are able to increase counselling support for young victims of sexual abuse. Experiences such as these can have a devastating and lasting impact on their lives so it’s important that we do what we can together to give them a chance to build a more positive future.”

Support at The Elms is available 24/7 to anyone who has experienced sexual abuse by calling 0800 193 5434. Services at The Elms are provided by a number of partners, including Cambridgeshire Rape Crisis, Peterborough Rape Crisis, Embrace, Peterborough Women’s Aid, Victims’ and Witness Hub, Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Mountain Healthcare Ltd.

The counselling service is available for all child victims (aged 8-19) of sexual violence and where required, victims of domestic abuse.

For more information about Embrace CVOC, visit www.embracecvoc.org.uk