Annual Report 23/24 Accessible Version

Commission services for victims that are needs-led

It is my responsibility to commission services for victims of crime across the county, whether they report to the police or not. I am committed to providing services that are needs-led so victims and witnesses are treated as individuals, and services are tailored accordingly.

I also have a dedicated Victims hub in Ashford - Compass House - which houses a number of services enabling closer working and a more joined up approach to delivering services to victims.

My 2023/24 core commissioning budget consisted of a grant of £2,237,093 from the MoJ to deliver services to support victims. However, my Commissioning team worked hard to secure additional funding from central government and were successful in securing £1,830,742 to increase the provision of DA and SV victim support services.

All services and projects funded, regardless of whether they are contracts or grants are subject to oversight and governance by my Commissioning Team. This is to ensure they operate to an appropriate set of standards and the impact of delivery can be fully recognised.

Governance is proportionate to the level of funding provided but it is important that any service or project operates effectively and to the benefit of those accessing it. In addition, my commissioning processes and governance are subject to independent audit which enables learning and improvements to be identified.

My Commissioning Team also respond to any complaints raised about funded services or projects, with a recent example resulting in funding being withdrawn.

Victims Funding

I received several different funding streams from the MoJ for the delivery of services that support victims of crime. They consisted of the following:

Victim Services Core Grant

DA/SV Funding

Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) /Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) Baseline Funding (700)

ISVA/IDVA Additional Funding (200)

ISVA/IDVA Additional Funding 23/24 (50)

Male Rape Support Service Fund. (MRSSF)

The above funding streams were allocated through application processes which assessed the evidenced need, reach, delivery approach, impact, and cost of each proposal.

The following are examples of the organisations and services funded in 2023/24:

Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) (£23,421) - 1 to 1 advocacy and peer support for those bereaved by suicide or unexplained death linked to DA and Domestic Homicide Reviews.

DA Volunteer Support Services (DAVSS) (£52,668) - to deliver the Support to Court Project for DA victims in West Kent engaged in civil and criminal court processes. Also the provision of advocacy support and a High Needs Coordinator.

Brake (£40,325) -– support for family members of those killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions.

My team worked with Brake and Kent Police to change the referral mechanism to an opt-out process which resulted in a greater number of road victims and their families being able to access support. In one case Brake was supporting several different members of a family following a road death. All the family members were referred by Kent Police’s Family Liaison Officers.

East Kent Rape Crisis Centre (EKRCC) (£219,075) - 1 to 1 therapy and family counselling for victims of sexual abuse (SA). Provision of an Adolescent ISVA, a combined ISVA / IDVA, a Student ISVA and a Child ISVA specialising in complex mental health issues. Collaboration with Family Matters to increase support capacity for men and boys who had experienced rape or SA at any point in their lives.

Choices Support (£36,289) - delivery of the Jigsaw Hate Crime Project to support hate crime victims with learning disabilities, mental ill health and autism.

Kent Integrated DA Service (KIDAS) (£259,800) - provision of 4 IDVAs, 2 Outreach Workers and an IDVA in East Kent to support young people impacted by DA.

Rising Sun DV & Abuse Service (£189,311) - to provide 1 C&YP Trauma Informed Worker and 1 Young Women’s Trauma Informed Mentor to support those impacted by DA, 1 IDVA Manager and 2 IDVAs to support those experiencing DA and SA living in unstable accommodation, at risk of homelessness or homeless and with multiple needs. Funding for a women’s counselling project in Canterbury, Ashford, Folkestone, and Hythe.

Oasis DA Service (£129,912) - provision of 2 IDVAs to increase capacity within the Medway Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (MIDAS) and to pilot a Connections IDVA focused on engaging with the Asian community in Medway.

Daisy Chain (£47,475) - provision of a pro-bono legal advice service for DA victims not eligible for legal aid. Support with documentation related to special measures in court, non-molestation orders and child related orders.

Rubicon Cares (£76,489) - provision of 1 to 1 trauma counselling for victims of all crime, regardless of whether the crime was reported to the police.

Dandelion Time (£70,517) - a nature-based charity providing therapeutic services and support to children and families impacted by the trauma of DA and SA.

To support increased demand, introduced weekend sessions and offered telephone assessments rather than face to face where suitable. Also piloted an engagement programme with schools’ pastoral staff.

SATEDA (£132,113) - to increase capacity in the following services: Support to Court, Therapeutic Support, Outreach and IDVA provision, including for C&YP.

Sign Health (£72,447) - provision of 1 IDVA to support Deaf victims of DA through BSL or other communication methods and 1 Young Persons Violence Advocate (YPVA) to support Deaf victims of DA aged 8 to 18 years.

The Mary Dolly Foundation (33,580) - provision of online therapeutic support for adult and C&YP victims of DA and SA.