Women urged to help study on sex attacks to aid victims

REGION-WIDE SURVEY ON VIOLENCE AND EXPLOITATION AIMING TO IMPROVE SERVICES

WOMEN across Greater Manchester are being asked to share their experiences of sexual violence and exploitation for a huge survey.

It is hoped the project will improve the help and support for survivors of these ordeals.

Manchester Action On Street Health (MASH), Manchester Rape Crisis and Trafford Rape Crisis are calling on women from across the region to share their experiences, anonymously, for the 18-month Voices Of Survivors project.

MASH CEO Cate Allison said the pioneering scheme has already been running for six months.

She said: “The first part has been an ongoing online questionnaire. That’s an important part of the project. We’re trying to get as many women as possible to take part.

“The next phase will be about reaching some of those women who don’t speak English. It’s for any women at all who have experienced sexual violence or sexual exploitation of any kind. It could vary from childhood abuse to a sexual assault on public transport.

“It’s all about us understanding what would help women in these situations in future.

“Although we want to reach the women we already work with we also want to reach who are not traditionally seen as victims.

“It’s completely confidential and the responses will be analysed by people with the right skills.

“We will ask what kind of support they found useful and we will use it to improve our services and influence policy makers.

“We also want to know who else is out there that women might turn to and can we help these organisations be better equipped.”

Lloyds Bank Foundation donated £83,000 to fund the project and the results will be analysed by Drs Kate Cook and Becky Clarke, from Manchester Metropolitan University. The project was officially launched at the Methodist Central Buildings in Manchester city centre last week.

Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for Police and Crime Beverley Hughes was the keynote speaker at the event at the Methodist Central Buildings.

The results are due to be published next spring.

Anyone who would like to take part in the survey can fill in the online form at http://vosgm.org.uk/