Victim Services

Your Commissioner is responsible for funding a range of local services that help support the victims of crime to cope and heal from their experiences.

The below list provides information about the services we fund or part fund to support individuals in Surrey:

• Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA)
  AAFDA Provide specialist and expert one to one advocacy and peer support to individuals bereaved by suicide or unexplained death following domestic abuse in Surrey.
  
  Visit aafda.org.uk
  
  
• Hourglass
  Hourglass is the UK’s only charity focused on the abuse and neglect of older people. Their mission is to end the harm, abuse, and exploitation of older people in the UK. Our Office has commissioned this service to provide tailored support to older victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. 
  
  Visit wearehourglass.org/domestic-abuse
  
  
• I Choose Freedom
  I Choose Freedom is a charity that provides refuge and a path to freedom for survivors of domestic abuse. They have three refuges that house women and children. As part of their Refuge for All project, they also offer self-contained units to support any survivor. We have funded a Children’s Therapeutic Support Worker and Children Play Worker to support children who are in refuge services and have experienced domestic abuse to help them understand that the abuse was not their fault. The children (and their mums) are given the tools to enable them to successfully make the transition from refuge to safe, independent living within the community.
  
  Visit ichoosefreedom.co.uk
  
  
• Justice and Care
  Justice and Care empowers individuals, families and communities impacted by modern slavery to live in freedom, pursue those responsible for trafficking and create change at scale. Our office has funded a Victim Navigator which places a Justice and Care team member into Surrey Police to help bridge the gap between those that have been trafficked and the criminal justice system.
  
  Visit justiceandcare.org
  
  
• NHS England Talking Therapies
  The Talking therapies for anxiety and depression programme was developed to improve the delivery of, and access to, evidence-based, NICE recommended, psychological therapies for depression and anxiety disorders within the NHS. Our office has helped fund talking therapy for victims of rape and sexual assault within this service
  
  Visit england.nhs.uk/mental-health/adults/nhs-talking-therapies/
  
  
• Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC)
  RASASC work with anyone in Surrey whose life has been affected by rape or sexual abuse, whether recently or in the past. They provide core rape and sexual assault services in Surrey through counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs).
  
  Visit rasasc.org/
  
  
• Surrey and Borders Partnership (SABP) NHS Trust
  SABP work with people and lead communities in improving their mental and physical health and wellbeing for a better life; through delivering excellent and responsive prevention, diagnosis, early intervention, treatment and care. We have provided funding to the Sexual Trauma Assessment and Recovery Service (STARS). STARS is a sexual trauma service which specialises in supporting and providing therapeutic interventions to children and young people who have suffered sexual trauma in Surrey.  The service supports children and young people up to age 18 years. Our office has provided funding to extend the current age range for young people who live in Surrey up to 25 years old. We have also commissioned a Child Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (CISVA) service within STARS, offering support through the criminal investigation process.
  
  Visit mindworks-surrey.org/our-services/intensive-interventions/sexual-trauma-assessment-recovery-and-support-stars
  
  
• Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership (SDAP)
  SDAP a group of independent charities who work together across the whole of Surrey to ensure that survivors of domestic abuse are safe, and to build a future where domestic abuse is not tolerated. The Partnership have Independent Domestic Violence Advisors who are trained to work with victims of domestic abuse at high-risk of serious harm. Our office have funded the following specialist Advisors in Surrey:
  
  
  
  • An IDVA to provide specialist support for victims of abuse who identify as LBGT+
  • An IDVA to provide specialist support for Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee victims of domestic abuse
  • An IDVA to provide specialist support for victims of abuse who are children or young people
  • An IDVA to provide specialist support for victims of abuse who have a disability
    
    
• The Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership includes:
  
  
  • South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Service (SWSDA) who support anyone affected by domestic abuse living in the boroughs of Guildford and Waverley.
    
    Visit swsda.org.uk
    
    
  • East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services (ESDAS) who are an independent charity providing outreach and associated services in the borough of Reigate & Banstead and the districts of Mole Valley and Tandridge. ESDAS helps anyone who lives or works in the East Surrey area who has or is experiencing Domestic Abuse.
    
    Visit esdas.org.uk
    
    
  • North Surey Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS) that is managed by Citizens Advice Elmbridge (West). NDAS provide free, confidential, independent, and impartial advice to anyone aged 16 or above affected by domestic abuse living in the boroughs of Epsom & Ewell, Elmbridge or Spelthorne.
    
    Visit nsdas.org.uk
    
    
  • Your Sanctuary is a Surrey based charity that offers sanctuary, support, and empowerment to anyone affected by Domestic Abuse. Your Sanctuary runs the Surrey Domestic Abuse Helpline that provides advise and signposting to anyone affected by abuse. They also provide safe accommodation for women and their children who are fleeing from Domestic Abuse. Your Sanctuary support domestic abuse survivors living in Woking, Surrey Heath, and Runneymede. We’ve commissioned a Children’s Therapeutic Support Worker and Children Play Workers to support children who are in refuge services and have experienced domestic abuse to help them understand that the abuse was not their fault. The children (and their mums) are given the tools to enable them to successfully make the transition from refuge to safe, independent living within the community.
    
    Visit yoursanctuary.org.uk or call 01483 776822 (9am-9pm every day)
    
    
• Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF)
  SMEF supports and represents the needs and aspirations of a growing ethnic minority population in Surrey. We have commissioned ‘The Trust Project’ which is an outreach support service for black and minority ethnic women at risk of domestic abuse. Two project workers support refugees and South Asian women in Surrey offering practical and emotional support. They also link with the children and often the men in the family. They work with a range of nationalities and one to one or in small groups, over several boroughs in Surrey.
  
  Visit smef.org.uk
  
  
• Victim and Witness Care Unit (VWCU)– The specialist Surrey Police VWCU is funded by our office to help victims of crime cope and, as far as possible, recover from their experience. Advice and support is offered to every victim of crime in Surrey, for as long as they need it. You can also call or email to request support from the team any time after a crime has occurred. The professional team can help identify and signpost services that are best suited to your unique situation, all the way to working alongside Surrey Police to ensure you are kept updated with the progress of a case, are supported through the criminal justice system and afterwards.
  
  Visit victimandwitnesscare.org.uk
  
  
• YMCA DownsLink Group
  The YMCA DownsLink group is a charity working to transform the lives of vulnerable young people across Sussex and Surrey. They work to prevent youth homelessness and provide a home to 763 young people every night. They reach a further 10,000 young people and their families through our other key services, such as counselling, support and advice, mediation and youth work, so that all young people can belong, contribute and thrive. Their ‘What is Sexual Exploitation’ (WiSE) Project supports children and young people to stay safe in their relationships. We have funded a YMCA WiSE project worker to work with and support young people up to the age of 25 who are at risk of or experiencing sexual exploitation. We have also funded an Early Interventions Worker to support children and young people, who are identified by schools, youth clubs and statutory services as presenting as ‘at risk’ to child sexual exploitation.
  
  Visit ymcadlg.org
  
  

Visit our ‘Our Funding’ and ‘Funding Statistics’ pages to learn more about our funding in Surrey, including services funded through our Community Safety Fund, Children and Young People’s Fund and Reducing Reoffending Fund.

Funding news