Cash to support victim-survivors of abuse, sexual violence and stalking
28/05/2026
Police and Crime Commissioner: “Domestic abuse, rape and sexual violence and stalking are some of the highest harm crimes an individual can experience”
The Sunrise Multicultural Project has been awarded £25,905 by the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, to support victim-survivors of domestic abuse, rape and sexual violence and stalking.
They are one of 18 services which will receive a share of over £1.5million this year.
During the six months from April 2025 these services supported over 2,600 people across the Thames Valley.
Further funding will also be provided next year, offering more stability to the services, which provide Independent Sexual Violence and Domestic Violence Advisers, a Stalking Advocacy Service, legal advice for domestic abuse victims, support for male victims of rape and sexual abuse and other specialist provision to help victim-survivors build resilience.
At the Sunrise Multicultural Project they have a dedicated Independent Domestic Violence Advocate who works to support victim-survivors of domestic abuse emotionally, risk assessing and preparing safety plans, offering advocacy support and helping them gain confidence and self-esteem.
Mr Barber said: “Domestic abuse, rape and sexual violence and stalking are some of the highest harm crimes an individual can experience. We have some exceptional organisations supporting victim-survivors of these crimes in the Thames Valley, but the Government’s 4.2% cut to the core victims funding provided to PCCs in 2025/26, in addition to a real-terms cut to the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund, created significant financial uncertainty.
“We were able to protect services from the funding reduction in 2025/26 and have committed that the 2% increase received from the Ministry of Justice for this financial year (2026/27) will be passed on, in full, to services. Some organisations will also receive an enhanced uplift in recognition of cost-of-living pressures and to ensure consistent salaries for specialist positions across the Thames Valley.
“We have also already confirmed funding amounts for 2027/28, totalling over £1.59 million. This will give the sector and post-holders more stability and ensure that victims will continue to have access to the vital support these 18 organisations provide, helping them cope with, recover from, and move forward after the traumatic impact of crime.”
Shabnam Malik, from the Sunrise Multicultural Project, said: “This funding will make a huge difference to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Many of the women we support are suffering in silence and face additional barriers such as language difficulties, isolation and lack of confidence in accessing services.
“Sunrise provides a trusted, safe and culturally sensitive environment where victims and survivors can access support without fear or judgement. We are incredibly thankful for this funding, which will allow us to continue supporting women and families to rebuild their confidence, safety and independence, while empowering them to move forward with hope.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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