Lloyds Bank Foundation issues £75K grant for victims of sexual violence in Northamptonshire

A better future for victims of sexual violence in Northamptonshire thanks to £75,000 grant from Lloyds Bank Foundation

Local people who have experienced sexual violence and abuse can look forward to better support thanks to a new £75,000 grant for The Northamptonshire Rape Crisis (NRC) from Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales.

NRC provides much needed services including advice, advocacy support and counselling to people living with the devastating effects of sexual violence and abuse, which includes experiences such as childhood sexual abuse, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, FGM and sexual exploitation.NRC helps them to recover from their experiences and get access to the legal and emotional support they need to move on with their lives with confidence.

Northamptonshire has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in England and NRC has faced rising demand for the vital support it offers since 2013. The Lloyds Bank Foundation grant will support the salary of the charity’s Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA), allowing NRC to provide ongoing support to people ready to move on from, and rebuild their lives following abuse. With the help of an ISVA, service users can rely on support as they go through difficult formal procedures such as navigating the criminal justice process, enuring that their needs are met and their voices are heard. 

The grant represents a continued investment in the charity by the Foundation who, in 2017, awarded them £15,000, to review and improve their communications and recruitment strategy to better target the support they offer to those who need it most. 

Dawn Thomas, CEO of NRC said:

“This funding makes a huge difference to the survivors that we support and to our ability as an organisation to continue to plan and offer services in an environment of ever increasing demand and ever decreasing public services and funding. Sexual violence ruins lives and the support of the Lloyds Foundation means we can continue to give a voice to those who otherwise may have nowhere to turn.”

Paul Streets, Chief Executive, Lloyds Bank Foundation said:

“As our latest research has shown, there is a quiet crisis facing local authorities. Ever-tighter budgets mean vulnerable people have to rely on the support of local charities like Northamptonshire Rape Crisis. They’re not just a “nice to have” their work is making a vital difference, day in, day out to people’s lives. We’re proud to partner with NRC as part of Lloyds Banking Group’s plan to Help Britain Prosper, supporting the costs of their work, strengthening them, and helping raise their voice among the policy-makers and decision-makers their future depends on.”

Northamptonshire Rape Crisis is one of six charities in the West Midlands supported in Lloyds Bank Foundation’s latest funding round, which awarded £441,209 across the region, tackling issues such as domestic abuse, homelessness and mental ill health.

Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales partner with small and local charities helping people overcome complex social issues such as mental health, homelessness and domestic abuse. With the Foundation’s support, small charities like Northamptonshire Rape Crisis who are often underfunded, under pressure and too often ignored, are able to make life-changing impact where others can’t.