Category Archives: Support

New £2 million fund will provide one-off payments to victims of domestic violence to help them leave their tormenters – Home Office

Hundreds of domestic abuse victims will receive lifeline payments to help them escape tormenting and often life-threatening abuse, and to help rebuild their lives thanks to an additional £2 million investment, the Home Office has announced.

From 31 January, victims of domestic abuse who do not have the financial means to leave their abusers will be able to apply for a one-off payment of up to £500 via one of over 470 support services, for essential items such as groceries, nappies or support with new accommodation to help them and their children flee to safety.

For the first time, victims can also apply for a further one-off payment of up to £2,500 to help secure a sustainable independent future, such as putting down a deposit for rental accommodation. This will help them move forward with their lives and prevent homelessness or pressure to return to abusers because of financial strain.

The fund will be delivered via referrals from a network of local frontline services in England and Wales including organisations, helplines and caseworkers who have a specialist understanding of domestic abuse.

The fund, which will initially last until March 2025, builds on a successful pilot funded by the Home Office and delivered with Women’s Aid last year which, helped over 600 victims to safety. Women’s Aid have been re-appointed to deliver this additional funding alongside hundreds of domestic abuse services across England and Wales.

During the pilot of the fund 83.4% of those applying said that the payments would be used to flee an abuser. Some reported the payments were to help prevent them from returning to abusive relationships due to financial struggles. With most survivors fleeing with little or no belongings, 77.6% said the money helped them to purchase essential goods such as fresh food for their children. Mental health and peace of mind was also improved, with the payments enabling them to purchase security measures such as CCTV and doorbell cameras.

This trial followed Women’s Aid research which found that almost three-quarters of women living with their abuser found it harder to leave as a result of the associated further cost of living.

The fund follows the government’s Domestic Abuse Plan which has invested over £230 million in tackling this heinous crime and builds on a series of measures which prioritise tackling violence against women and girls.

Last year the government expanded legal aid to ensure domestic abuse victims face fewer barriers to funded assistance in the courts. Victims on universal credit seeking a protective order for themselves or their children against their attackers can now access legal aid funding more easily without facing a means test. Changes introduced in May mean victims of coercive control will also be made eligible for legal help without needing to access funds from joint assets.

All police forces across England and Wales are now following a new approach for the investigation of rape, funded by the Home Office, with police referrals to the Crown Prosecution Service for adult rape offences already up more than 200% since 2019.  Under the new model, police and prosecutors can access better support and 2,000 police investigators will be specially trained in sexual offences by April 2024.

Violence against women and girls (including domestic abuse) has been added to the Strategic Policing Requirement – meaning it is now categorised as a national threat for forces to respond to, alongside other serious threats like terrorism.

In November 2023, the third phase of the government’s innovative ‘Enough’ communications campaign that looks to change long-term behaviours and attitudes towards violence against women and girls, launched a third phase of activity, which included partnering with over 30 UK universities in a bid to protect women and girls on university campuses.

The Home Office also funds “perpetrator intervention” projects which aim to stop domestic abusers and stalkers from repeatedly targeting victims and terrorising vulnerable people.

The government has also created new offences to criminalise acts such as non-fatal strangulation, stalking, cyberflashing and the sharing of intimate images without consent.

Part of a longer press release at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/domestic-abuse-victims-given-fresh-support-to-escape-abuse

 

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January 16, 2024

Shore – a safe space for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour – Lucy Faithfull Foundation

Designed especially for young people aged 13-18 our Shore website is a dedicated and confidential resource tailored for teenagers concerned about their own or someone else’s sexual thoughts and behaviour.

Why do we need Shore?

Research shows that under-18s are responsible for one-third of sexual offences against young peoplein the UK. Shore’s mission is to address this pressing public health issue by offering accessible, practical advice and dedicated support for young people concerned about harmful sexual behaviour (HSB).

The problem of HSB and young people has been growing for some time.

In June 2020, a young woman called Soma Sara began sharing on Instagram her experiences of rape culture. An overwhelming number of young people replied to share similar experiences, highlighting the extent of sexual harassment and abuse in UK schools and colleges. In response, Soma founded Everyone’s Invited, a charity providing an anonymous platform for survivors to share their stories and delivering specialist education in schools to promote healthy relationships.

Since launching our live chat in 2020, our Stop It Now! helpline saw a 32% increase in contacts from under-18s worried about their sexual thoughts or behaviour, showing the importance of a dedicated resource like Shore. Demand for our Inform Young People programme, which supports young people who have got into trouble for their online sexual behaviour, has also surged to an unprecedented level.

Added to this, we have also seen a 26% increase in the number of adults contacting us concerned about the behaviour of someone under 18.

Innovate website

“We have designed this innovative website,especially for teens,to provide a safe space for them to learn about sexual relationships and behaviour” says Rachel Haynes, Senior Practitioner at The Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Clinical Lead for Shore. “Our aim is to offer reliable information and advice to educate and protect young people from harmful sexual behaviour,both online and offline.”

“To do this, we conducted research with young people, parents and professionals to find out what concerns them, where they currently go for support and what they think we should develop. Young people told us they want clear, reliable information they can trust and confidential and anonymous ways to seek support,” added Rachel.

To create a safe space that young people trust, it is crucial that we listen to and learn from them. That is why we’ve worked with young people at every step of the wayin the planning, design and development of Shore.

Every year our helpline and programmes support growing numbers of young people and their families in hugely challenging circumstances. They’ve told us what they need to build better futures and we’ve put that into the design of Shore. We want to thank all the young people who have been involved in helping us create this unique resource.

“Shore offers an engaging and interactive experience, including a chat and email service for teenagers to seek advice and support on a variety of issues, including harmful sexual behaviour,the law, online risks and concerns about friends,” said Rachel.

All of this has been tested with young people and they’ve told us what works for them.

For more information about: 

Part of a longer press release at https://www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk/featured-news/shore-website-launched.htm

 

September 29, 2023

Sexually Coerced Extortion or ‘Sextortion’ – Help & Support – Internet Watch Foundation

Is someone threatening to post nudes or sexual images of you, your child or a friend online?

Sexually coerced extortion or ‘sextortion’ is a type of blackmail where someone tries to use intimate, naked or sexual photos or videos of you to make you do things you don’t want to do. Sometimes, these photos or videos are taken without your knowledge, and the person blackmailing you uses them to force you to pay money or do something against your will.

Criminals often target people who use dating apps, social media platforms, webcam/live streaming sites or websites related to pornography. They might pretend to be someone else online and become friends with you. Later, they might threaten to share pictures or videos with your family and friends.

Remember, if you ever find yourself in a situation like this, it’s important to know that the victims of ‘sextortion’ are never to blame. The criminals who try to extort money or make victims do things they don’t want to do are the ones at fault.

Our team frequently see both boys and girls as targets for ‘sextortion’. It’s important to know that this crime can impact people of any sex or age.

More information at https://www.iwf.org.uk/resources/sextortion/

July 28, 2023

Safe Spaces – Supporting survivors of church related abuse

Safe Spaces, the free national support service for victims and survivors of church-related abuse, will increase operational hours under a newly appointed independent provider, First Light, who took over the service from Monday 9 January 2023.

Safe Spaces offers a confidential, personal, and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England, The Church in Wales or The Catholic Church in England and Wales, regardless of disability, age, gender, or sexual orientation.

Safe Spaces Services will be available on 0300 303 1056.

Opening hours will be extended to Monday to Friday 9am – 9pm, Saturday 9-1pm and Sunday from 1-5pm (excluding bank holidays, subject to review).

Safe Spaces can also be contacted at Safe Spaces England and Wales.

First Light is an independent organisation with over 25 years’ experience in supporting those who have experienced or are experiencing sexual abuse and/or domestic violence and abuse, including survivors and victims of church-related abuse.

First Light were appointed by The Church of England, The Church in Wales and The Catholic Church in England and Wales on 24 November 2022 after a rigorous recruitment process by The Board of Trustees of Safe Spaces England and Wales including victims and survivors. First Light have assumed responsibility of the website and communications for Safe Spaces and will post updates in due course.

The Bishop of Southampton, Debbie Sellin, a Trustee of SSEW said: “This new arrangement will support a welcome continuation of Safe Spaces, a vital service for those who have been affected by church-related abuse. I will be praying for all current and future service users, as well as for First Light as they begin their work as the new providers of Safe Spaces.”

Bishop Paul Mason, Safeguarding Lead for the Catholic Church, Board Member of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) and a Trustee of SSEW said: ““First Light have shown exceptional commitment to survivors and victims of church-related abuse. As they take over as new independent providers of Safe Spaces today, these extended opening hours demonstrate a responsiveness to need which we are confident will go a long way to reassuring service users.”

Lyn Gooding, Chief Executive of First Light said: “We are delighted to have been selected to deliver this vital service to survivors. We’re confident that we have the skills, experience, understanding, and expertise be able to offer survivors a truly independent support service. We are proud to say we’re here for anyone who needs us on their journey to recovery, and towards a future free from abuse.”

https://www.catholicsafeguarding.org.uk/safe-spaces-service-update/

January 25, 2023

Forced Marriage Unit statistics 2021 – Home Office

Key points

In 2021, the Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) gave advice and support in 337 cases related to a possible forced marriage and/or possible female genital mutilation (FGM). It also responded to 868 general enquiries.

A case in which advice and support is given (‘advice and support cases’) is one where the FMU is provided with details of a specific individual at risk of, or affected by, forced marriage (or FGM), and actively provides advice and support for as long as required.

A general enquiry is one where the FMU may be asked to provide general advice and/or signposting to other sources of guidance or information. FMU began to record these in 2018, separate to the advice and support cases which comprised the annual published statistics.

In preparing the 2020 statistics, FMU made some changes to recording practices. In doing so, some contacts that might previously have been included as a case of ‘potential or actual forced marriage’ but which did not relate to a specific individual where advice and support was requested of the FMU, were more appropriately categorised as a ‘general enquiry’. As set out in the 2020 statistics, this had some impact on the reduction in the number of advice and support cases compared with the previous year, although FMU’s assessment is that the effects of the pandemic likely constituted the main factor.

The change in recording practices was in place throughout 2021. As such, some of the cases which would previously have been recorded as advice and support cases have now been recorded as general enquiries (and therefore feature in the figure of 868 rather than 337). This is likely to be the principal factor in the fall in the number of advice and support cases from 759 in 2020 to 337 in 2021, and the increase in the number of general enquiries received from around 400 in 2020 to 868 in 2021. The effects of the pandemic also persisted during 2021 (for example, restrictions on weddings and overseas travel). As shown above, the total number of cases (advice and support cases, and general enquiries) in 2021 was similar to that in 2020.

The 337 advice and support cases comprised 316 cases solely related to forced marriage, three cases related to both forced marriage and FGM, and 18 cases solely related to FGM. This figure includes contact that was made to the FMU through the public helpline or by email in relation to a new case. The figures in the rest of this document refer to the 337 cases.

Of the cases that the FMU provided advice or support to in 2021:

  • 118 cases (35%) involved victims below 18 years of age
  • 120 cases (36%) involved victims aged 18-25
  • 53 cases (16%) involved victims with mental capacity concerns
  • 251 cases (74%) involved female victims, and 86 cases (26%) involved male victims

The FMU remained fully operational throughout the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic and took steps to ensure that this was publicised extensively. FMU caseworkers have been more regularly invited to attend multi-agency strategy meetings following the widespread move to virtual working in several professional sectors.

In 2021, the FMU further increased its outreach activities and delivered training to over 1,000 UK professionals in how to support victims of forced marriage. This was more than double the number of professionals who attended our training in 2020. Our outreach included the continuation of bespoke, half-day training workshops for social care staff and police officers. We also delivered ad hoc training on request to groups including: police officers, social services, health professionals, local authorities, Border Force staff and community groups. In 2021, 9,964 people from a wide range of professions took the FMU’s “Awareness of Forced Marriage” free online course.

Forced marriage is not a problem specific to one country, religion or culture. In recent years, the FMU has handled cases relating to countries across six continents.

In 2021, the FMU handled cases relating to 32 ‘focus countries’, excluding the UK. The ‘focus country’ is the country to which the forced marriage risk relates. This could be the country where the forced marriage (or FGM) is due to take place, the country where it has taken place, and/or the country that the spouse is currently residing in. The ‘focus countries’ (other than the UK) with the highest number of cases in 2021 were:

  • Pakistan 159 cases (47%)
  • Bangladesh 32 cases (9%)
  • Somalia including Somaliland 10 cases (3%)
  • Kenya 8 cases (2%)
  • Iraq 7 cases (2%)
  • Romania 7 cases (2%)

The majority (72%) of victims were in the UK at the time the case was referred to us.

In 2021, 11 cases (3%) had no overseas element, with the potential or actual forced marriage taking place entirely within the UK. This continues to highlight that forced marriages can and do take place in the UK.

This document is accompanied by a data sheet which contains the figures quoted in this report. Categories containing data relating to fewer than five cases have been recorded as “<5” to preserve the anonymity of victims.

These statistics represent only the cases that have been reported to the FMU and where the FMU has actively given advice or support. Forced marriage is a hidden crime, and these figures will not reflect the full scale of the abuse.

For full details go to https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/forced-marriage-unit-statistics-2021/forced-marriage-unit-statistics-2021

August 4, 2022