Rape crisis centre gets £400,000 of funding from the National Lottery

Forth Valley Rape Crisis Centre has been awarded a grant of almost £400,000 from the National

Lottery Fund.

The centre has been given £385,882 to continue to provide support for vicitims of sexual violence across Central Region.

Over the next three years the project, based in Stirling’s Riverside area, is expected to support more than 220 people who live or work in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire.

Paid staff and six volunteers will support survivors recovering from the traumatic impact of sexual violence.

The news follows a more difficult period for the organisation, which only recently reopened its waiting list for people from the Falkirk area. It had been closed to them for six months before enough funding was found from Falkirk Council and the Scottish Government to allow them to be included once again.

FVRC opened a new centre in Stirling just over a year ago in Riverside, having secured planning permission despite nine objections from locals who felt the office use was inappropriate for a residential area. The property was said to have been chosen to afford the centre some anonymity.

A FVRCC spokesperson said: “This grant allows us to sustain and grow our current staffing.

“It will fund two full-time workers and a part time worker who will work across the Forth Valley area. This will have a positive impact on the lives of survivors of sexual violence as it will allow us to reduce waiting times as well as innovate in how we offer support.

“During the lifetime of the project, we will also partner with University of Stirling University and Forth Valley college to offer on-campus therapeutic support to those affected by sexual violence.”

National Lottery Community Fund Scotland chair, Maureen McGinn, said:“This funding will make a big difference where it’s needed most, and I wish them every success as they go on to develop and expand this project for the benefit of the community.”

Forth Valley Rape Crisis provides free and confidential information, advocacy and support to anyone, over 13, in the Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling area affected by sexual violence. This includes survivors of sexual violence and their friends and families. They also provide advice, support and training to staff in other agencies who are working with survivors so they can provide a good response to survivors of sexual violence.

The award is part of a £7 million wider package of funding for 38 voluntary and charity groups across Scotland from The National Lottery Community Fund. To find out more visit www. TNLCommunityFund.org.uk.

Anyone looking for support can call FV Rape Crisis Centre on 01786 439244 or email: support@ forthvalleyrapecrisis.org.uk