South Yorkshire projects supported by the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings are to receive £413,000 grant funding from the Home Office.

The funding administered by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk had a total fund of £4.85m available to support non-statutory organisations supporting victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

Dr Alan Billings was made aware of nine organisations from South Yorkshire.  He endorsed his support to nine projects by letter to accompany the applications for the Child Abuse Inquiry Support Fund and the Child and Adult Victims of Sexual Abuse Support Fund.

He said:  “I am very pleased that the selection panel for the funding have awarded South Yorkshire Projects grants to continue the excellent work they do in the county.  I would also like to thank Stephen Bett, Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk for considering all of the South Yorkshire applications.

“South Yorkshire Police are working hard to ensure that they treat vulnerable people and those at risk of abuse with greater understanding and sensitivity. The organisations that have received funding are all seeking to support victims and survivors.”

The Children, Young People and Families Consortium in Rotherham were successful in securing the largest single grant of £262,338 for their Base Project to support victims and survivors of sexual abuse.  The funding will provide counselling services, 1:1 support, education and training, drop-in sessions, family therapy and support and outreach sessions.

Dr Billings continued: “I would like to congratulate and thank The Children, Young People and Families Consortium.  The work they do in the community is very much appreciated.  I wish them well with the work they do and very much look forward to meeting them to see how the funding is helping people using the service.”

Other organisations receiving funding from the Home Office grant are The Cyrenians Limited, who provide counselling and mental health support services in Doncaster.  The Changing Lives programme secured £61,653 and will use this funding to provide additional resources to offer one to one support, counselling and therapeutic group work to young people who are victims of historical and/or recent child sexual exploitation who are referred or self-refer to the Doncaster based service.

Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre received grant funding from both funding pots.  The total amount awarded to them totals £69,343.  This funding will cover running costs due to the recent increase in demand and help to improve the help and support of survivors.

They plan to improve the service provided by developing a helpline service and employing a Sexual Violence Advisor to work with survivors directly.

From the nine applications endorsed by Dr Billings, six were successful in gaining grant funding.