New support for male rape and sexual violence victims in Greater Manchester

New Support for Male Rape and Sexual Violence Victims in Greater Manchester

Victims Minister Mike Penning has today announced that almost £100,000 is being provided to Survivors Manchester to help provide specialist support to male victims of rape and sexual violence.

This is part of the first ever fund specifically designed to help male victims.

Approximately 75,000 men were victims of sexual assault in 2012/13, yet police figures for 2013 show fewer than 3,000 offences of male rape or sexual assault were recorded.

The Male Rape Support Fund has been created by the Ministry of Justice to help tackle the taboo that surrounds male victims of sexual violence and encourage them to seek help. They also hope this will encourage more male victims to report the crime to bring their offender to justice. It will help increase male victims’ access to crucial information, myth busting and emotional support - either in person, or online if they find that more accessible.

Survivors Manchester will receive funding of £99,960 over two years to help increase therapeutic time, expand into two new rooms for one to one and group work, develop their e-support and update their Self Help Guide. Currently the centre helps male victims of rape and sexual abuse and trains others to work with these victims over the phone, internet and face to face.

A further £400,000 over two years will be given to Survivors UK to help them create the first national website and online support service specifically tailored to help men who have suffered rape or sexual abuse and ensure that no matter where they live they will be able to access help anonymously and at a time that suits them.

Victims Minister Mike Penning said: “Latest estimates show that more than 1 in 10 victims of rape or attempted rape every year are men. Yet few come to forward to report it or seek help. I want to change that – it’s vital these victims are helped to cope and hopefully recover from is a hugely traumatic crime.”

Survivors Manchester’s CEO, Duncan Craig, who set the organisation up in response to the recognition that there was no support during his own healing from abuse stated:
“I am delighted that Survivors Manchester will receive this money to help us continue to deliver front line therapeutic support services to the boys and men that ask us for help. But I’m also delighted that the Government, in particular the Ministry of Justice has set out this fund because it finally recognises males as survivors. It says to the country that we exist and something is being done to address the gap in support provision”

The Male Rape Support Fund is part of the Ministry of Justice’s campaign to Break the Silence around male rape and sexual violence, launched earlier this year with support from Survivors Manchester and Channel 4’s Hollyoaks, the first primetime soap to feature the issue of male rape in a storyline.