Victim Support celebrates 40 years

On Wednesday 1 January the Independent charity Victim Support celebrated 40 years of helping victims of crime.

From humble beginnings as a local community project, Victim Support has grown into the world’s biggest charity for victims and witnesses, with ten branches across Greater Manchester.

It now contacts more than one million victims of crime every year and helps more than 200,000 people giving evidence in court.

In Greater Manchester alone over the last year, our staff and volunteers have helped 31,000 victims and nearly 11,000 witnesses through the criminal justice system.

New analysis of Victim Support’s records shows an estimated 55,000 people have volunteered for the charity over the years, which has helped or contacted at least 30 million victims of crime.

Leading figures from the criminal justice system pay tribute to the immense contribution made by staff and volunteers over the last four decades.

Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: “We know that participation in the criminal justice system can be daunting for both victims and witnesses and Victim Support provides an essential service, not only by supporting victims of crime and helping witnesses give evidence in court through its volunteer-led Witness Service, but also in ensuring their voices are heard across the system.

“As DPP, I am committed to making victims’ experiences easier and better and the work of Victim Support is invaluable to the CPS’s efforts to achieve this. I am grateful to Victim Support for their role in representing the views of victims and witnesses and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure the CPS continues to improve the service we provide to those unfortunate enough to find themselves victims of crime.” 

Mr Lloyd, police and crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester and chair of the association of Police and Crime Commissioner said: “Victim Support provides a lifeline to more than a million victims each year, including thousands in Greater Manchester. Without volunteers willing to give up their own time to offer help and support to people at what is a very distressing time, Victim Support wouldn’t be able to provide this invaluable service. They make a real difference and on behalf of the people of Greater Manchester, I thank them.

“Organisations like Victim Support give victims a voice in the criminal justice system and it’s vital that we work with them to improve the service we provide to victims and witnesses and make sure their needs are the centre of everything we do - that’s something I’m committed to in Greater Manchester and I’m sure this is shared by Police and Crime Commissioners up and down the country.”

Divisional Manager for Greater Manchester Lesley Daniels said: Thanks must go to our professional, dedicated and committed volunteers and staff. Together, and with the support of other organisations both voluntary and statutory we are able to deliver an holistic service to victims and witnesses throughout Greater Manchester. We continue to put victims and witnesses at the heart of everything we do whilst upholding our core values of strength, diversity, excellence and ambition.

Anybody wishing to find out more about volunteering for Victim Support in Greater Manchester area or donating to help it’s work should visit www.victimsupport.org.uk or 01204 374324.