Lottery lifeline for rape victims

A service that offers information, support and counselling to victims of rape and sexual abuse has received a £373,000 funding boost.

Manchester Rape Crisis will use the money from the Big Lottery Fund to expand its service to vulnerable victims in Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside, Stockport, Salford, Bolton and Preston.

The project, based in Pankhurst Women’s Centre, Central Manchester, will also provide a signposting service for male victims of abuse and offer support and information to relatives and friends.

Activities at the centre will include one-to-one counselling, individual support and group work and training courses for volunteers.

The project, which will operate an out-of-hours helpline, will run a monthly drop-in service for those who have extra support needs, and will develop work with hard-to-reach groups such as the black and minority ethnic community.

The organisation has also designed a personal development course looking at issues around self-confidence and self-assertiveness for women who have completed counselling sessions.

Victims will also be able to get advice and information regarding sexual and mental-health matters, how to report a crime, and understanding the court process.

Manager Anne Stebbings said: “Manchester Rape Crisis is delighted with the recent award from the National Lottery Reaching Communities programme.

“Securing funding for a five-year period will enable MRC to sustain and develop our project, working to support some of the most vulnerable women in our community.

“MRC would like to thank the National Lottery for recognising the quality of work carried out by MRC and for providing us with the funding to sustain and expand our service.”

Grants were also awarded to Langley Theatre Workshop (£302,391) and a Manchester-based exercise and diet project, Healthy Developments (£185,183).

Helen Bullough, North West head of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “These projects are excellent examples of how the Reaching Communities programme is enabling local organisations to provide huge benefits for people across the North-West.

“Whether it be giving vital support to those who are suffering abuse, offering a creative lifeline to those isolated in the community, or providing well being care for people with mental-health issues, these grants are making a big difference to people’s lives across the community.”