Funding for Rape Crisis centres - what do you think?

[KateMumsnet]

You might remember that, as part of our We Believe You campaign, we helped Rape Crisis raise awareness of the fact that their national helpline is currently unfunded, leaving over 250 women a week unable to get through.

Rape Crisis are now asking Mumsnetters to support them in opposing govt proposals to abolish the Rape Support Fund (the centralised pot of money out of which many Rape Crisis centres are funded) as part of the drive to devolve funding to local level.

Rape Crisis are really worried about this: local funding decisions should equal better, more appropriate services - but in fact when rape support was previously locally-funded, half their centres were forced to close. Local authorities just didn't seem to see the need for them, leaving London, for example, with just one centre to cover a population of 8m.

They're also very concerned that the new Policing and Crime Commissioners, who'd be administering the funds, just won't have the expertise to commission sexual violence services; and that they'll prioritise their policing work, leaving survivors of sexual violence unsupported.

We know that Mumsnetters have varying opinions on the subject of localism, so do let us know what you think of this particular proposal, and whether you'd like to see Mumsnet support Rape Crisis in opposing it.

Thanks

MNHQ

Notthe
Except the government won't feel the impact of the closure of Rape Crisis Centres. Abused women will.

If no women is angry enough to vent her feelings on the issue of a closure of a vital service, I would be most surprised.

Perhaps though you have a better suggestion as to how to fight the cuts Mme?

Yes

oh, sorry. Have gone back and read your earlier point, NotTheFull. I understand what you mean now.

The problem is though that there will never be a cohesive group, and bringing them together is simply not possible unless they have a very strong leader. I cannot see that this happening.

Yes I fully support this I have just finished counselling with rape crisis centre due to childhood sexual abuse and I have been helped immensely sadly they cannot offer enough women the help they need.

Mme your great, no offence taken at all, I am often not very clear.

I agree with your point about a leader which is why I would argue for doing away with such an idea of leaders and parties. Think about all the groups who are being adversly hit. Women, the disabled, elderly, low waged, some middle class people. So if we could act not as one but each together supporting each other in order to bring about the fundemental change that is what I would want to see. Women who are the majority in this country cannot do it as you are right they would never reach criticle mass. That is why on some levels we need each other and to put aside politicle diffrences until we do the fundemental job of introducing a faier society for all. At that stage I think women, and others could revert back to being campaigning groups for themselves. I would suggest that a good model was the tuc march in London where you had such a wide spread of people and politicle views.

I think we should oppose proposals to abolish the Rape Support Fund . The effects of rape last a lifetime .

FYI: Many other countries (including those that are struggling to recover from wars) prioritise central government funding for services to support women and girls who have been raped. It's staggering that here in Britain we're even having to think about whether this should be a centrally-funded service.
In short - yes MN should absolutely support Rape Crisis!

Yes, MN should support Rape Crisis.

I'm just a bit puzzled about the statement Local authorities just didn't seem to see the need for them

What's the evidence - because if this is true, we should have the data Council by Council.

Some Councils do commission services. If they feel they are going to be slagged off anyway ... well, it's not helpful?

Yes, they have my support. Local governments have been cutting services left, right and centre without a thought about those who are affected. Children, the disabled and the elderly have all suffered but my council has the funds to improve shop fronts (seriously). Rape is a crime and rape crisis do a fabulous job. It would be another crime on these victims to deny them the support they need.

Yes please support them

Yes, please support Rape Crisis.

Yes support them.

Yes, this absolutely must not be devolved to local councils who are already having their budgets slashed right left and centre.

Having worked as a volunteer for this most excellent service as a student Social Worker Ill say a big fat YES too.

Is MN also offering any kind of support/campaign about the closure of refuges for women too?

Rape crisis offer vital help. I would willingly join any campaign to support their work and their funding. What can we do?

ThatllDoPig: For a start stop seeing this service as any more important than other services, defend them all not just one.

notthefullshilling, I am answering what mumsnet has asked, and giving my support.
Regarding your points, darthvader put it better than I could. Yes the system is not fair, but we have to start somewhere to work towards making things better. I am certainly not saying that rape crisis is 'more important' than other services, but it is one which I have experience of and feel strongly about.

notthefullshilling personally I think they deserve all the support they can get without their counselling services I really don't know if I would of made it through the last 6 months. To me it therefore is more important.

Stewie and Dotty, I am indeed interested. However dotty I could argue that I have worked and benefited from other services that face cuts and are just as important to women facing dv and rape. I am not prioritising those services over rape crises centres because I do not by the initial concept that we do not have the money to fund ALL the services we need. I am willing to fight for all services on an equal basis, as to fall in to the trap of promoting one service above another is to take on the responsibility for closing others, and allow national and local government to get off the hook by arguing that the "public" made enough noise for one cause and not any others.

That is why I will not sign any petition Stewie not because it is something I do not believe in, but rather I believe in a whole society that treats everyone with the same respect.

I would also again ask mumsnet to offer support to this cause but in the context of a statement that insists all public services for women and children be fully maintained.

Thatwilldopig. The road to hell is paved with good intentions, so you intend to do good by supporting rape crises centres. So lets say you are in the position of allocating the money for them. Do you take it from central government and if so what department, or local council budgets, and if so which organisations that will be bidding for the same money will you deny.

That unfortunately is the reality of the situation, austerity is for the little people not those who have far more money to worry about ever using public services. So whilst you want to start somewhere littlepig, perhaps you should start at a completely diffrent place from where the government would like you to start