The Next Application Deadline for this fund is 07/11/2008
Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) are one-stop locations where victims of sexual assault can receive medical care and counselling, and have the opportunity to assist police investigations into alleged offences. Funding is available for existing SARCS as well as partnerships of police forces and Primary Care Trusts (or Local Health Boards in Wales), Crime and Disorder Partnerships (or Community Safety Partnerships in Wales), and voluntary sector organisations that plan to develop a SARC in their area. Applications from partnerships led by voluntary organisations are also eligible, as long as the relevant statutory partners are included. For the new round the 2008/09 and 2009/10 SARC spending rounds will be combined.
How Much?
Total Fund Value: £ 1,600,000 comprising of £1 million capital funding and £600,000 resource funding.
What for?
SARCs are widely recognised as presenting the way forward for provision of services to victims in the immediate aftermath of rape and sexual assault, and form a key element of the Cross Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse, announced by the Home Office on 2 April 2007.
At present there are 22 centres operating across England and Wales with many more centres under development. Close partnership working between key agencies – CDRPs (Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships), the police, PCTs (primary Care Trusts), and voluntary sector organisations – is crucial for the operation of a SARC. CDRPs/CSPs (Community Safety Partnerships) co-ordinate local work to address crime and disorder and they include police, health and Local Authorities.
The role of voluntary organisations in SARCs varies, but is always an important one. At the very least, there should be referral routes between SARCs and local specialist sexual violence services for use in cases where clients have a preference for counselling away from the centre (e.g. women only service) or need ongoing counselling; and where it is appropriate for users of these services to be referred on to a SARC.
Eligibility
- Only existing SARCs can apply for resource funding.
- applications from individuals are not eligible;
- funding is not provided to support party political activities;
- If you are applying for funding for a new SARC, the Home Office strongly recommend that applications are submitted jointly by police forces, Primary Care Trusts (PCT(s), and any local sexual violence voluntary sector organisations.
- Applications should also be supported by the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).
- You will only be able to bid for one off capital start up funding in either the 2008/09 or 2009/10 spending round.
Capital funding
includes grants for:
- building refurbishment;
- furnishings;
- medical equipment; and
- office equipment.
Resource funding
includes grants for:
- staff costs;
- publicity and publishing booklets or leaflets;
- training;
- service charges; and
- maintenance of premises.
Previously awarded funds:
In the last round of funding, 10 grants totalling over £600,000 were awarded. Awards of £70,000 each were made to the following new SARCs: Cardiff; Carmarthenshire; Nottingham; Bristol; Aylesbury Thames Valley; Barnsley. Existing SARCS were also awarded funding: Exeter (£70,000 Development Grant); Truro (£70,000 Development Grant); Norfolk (£40,000 Development Grant); Portsmouth (£20,000 Top Up Grant).
There are 22 sexual assault referral centres now operating throughout England and Wales with many other centres in development, due to open in the coming months.
Deadline
The deadline for applications is 7 November 2008.
Applicants should know the outcome of their applications by December 2008.
SARCs not in a position in November 2008 to bid for the 2009/10 funding round will have an opportunity do so in April 2009.This is when a further funding round will be announced to spend the remainder of the 2009/10 budget.
Further information
http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/sexual/sexual028.htm
or
Contact Lyndsay Gittus at the Violent Crimes Unit Lyndsay Gittus
Violent Crime Unit
Home Office
4th Floor Peel
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Phone:
020 7035 3123
Email:
lyndsay.gittus@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Filed under: Funding
