This week (3-9 February 2025) marks the national Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week. This year the theme is ‘It’s Not Ok’.
Rape Crisis England and Wales recently reported that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 18 men have been raped or sexually assaulted since the age of 16 and 1 in 6 children have experienced sexual abuse in their lifetime.
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne supports the victims and survivors of sexual violence or abuse, year-round as part of her Police & Crime Plan priorities. PCC Bourne has a dedicated Victims Commissioning team within her office who work with numerous service providers across the county giving help and support to those in need.
Speaking about the importance of this week, PCC Katy Bourne said: "It’s always helpful to raise awareness of support services during weeks like this but we should be mindful that abuse and violence happens all year round, leaving long-lasting and often life-changing impacts on victims.
"That’s why it’s so important that police, service providers and our criminal justice partners take victims and survivors of sexual violence seriously, allowing their voices and experiences to be heard, especially when designing services for them.
"Tackling sexual violence and ensuring we have high-quality services in place remains a priority in my Police and Crime Plan for the next four years.
"Whilst we are, sadly, experiencing the highest volume of reported serious sexual offences since 2016, it is nevertheless reassuring to see that Sussex Police solved more rape offences last year than 2022 and 2023 combined.”
In the financial year 2024/25, PCC Katy Bourne has provided over £1.6 million in funding to 11 x organisations who provide services supporting women, men and children who have been victims of sexual violence or abuse.
Nearly 3,500 individuals have been supported by these services since April last year.
Survivors Network receive funding from PCC Katy Bourne to provide support for victims and survivors of sexual violence through numerous routes such as a Brighton & Hove based counselling service and offer tailored advice for victims of rape and sexual assault.
Part of the funding from PCC Katy Bourne’s office allows for the provision of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) who provide one-to-one support to victims and survivors. This includes two ISVAs specifically for children; one People Who Experience Racism ISVA and an ISVA with a focus on navigating the Criminal Justice System.
Survivors Network also run a peer support and recovery group for women survivors who have experienced sexual violence who are over 50 years old and an online group for all women who have experienced sexual violence.
Other organisations tackling sexual abuse and violence funded by PCC Katy Bourne include: Lifecentre; Mankind Oasis Project; Streetlight; Barnado’s; YMCA Downslink Group; Yada; Friends, Families and Travellers; Counselling Plus; Brighton Women’s Centre.
If you are ever in an emergency, always call 999 – or dial 101 in a non-emergency, or report online.
For guidance, support and help, visit Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne’s online directory: Safe Space Sussex - to find over 80 x high-quality service providers.
