Harriet Harman, Minister for Women
“Rape Crisis England and Wales has done an important job in alerting us to the funding challenges faced at a local level by these rape crisis centres. We’ve stepped in with this emergency funding to help stop them from closing, while we sort out the longer term. Rape is one of the most devastating offences for victims. It violates the basic right of women, men and children to be treated with dignity and respect.”
Barbara Follett, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality
“Rape is a horrific crime and has a devastating effect on its victims. It violates the basic rights of women, men and children to be treated with dignity and respect, and to have control over their own bodies. That is why we have announced new funding of up to £1 million, aimed at keeping a number of Rape Crisis Centres open. This should enable centres to stay open and provide vital support services to rape victims while work is undertaken to develop a longer term solution. Tackling violence against women is a priority for this Government. It is absolutely crucial that victims are offered support and counselling and that offenders are caught and brought to justice…” (To read more of Barbara Follett’s comments on the Rape Crisis Campaign, click here.)
Theresa May, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Shadow Minister for Women
“I raised this in the House of Commons today [March 20] and welcome the Minister’s response that following a campaign over some months by many who were concerned about the future of rape crisis centres they have provided extra funding for the centres. They provide a valuable service for many women and it is good news that they will be able to continue to do this important work.”
Dr Nicole Westmarland, Chair of Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
“It is highly significant that this emergency funding has been agreed across a range of government departments including the Department for Communities and Local Government, Government Equalities Office, Department for Health, Home Office, Ministry of Justice, and the Cabinet Office. We very much welcome the Government’s commitment to work towards the development of a ‘sustainable business model’ for the longer term, as this is something we have been campaigning for, for some considerable time. It is vital that we now work very closely across government departments and that this is led by the Minister for Women and Equalities. We want to see an end to the postcode lottery of service provision and ensure that rape victims in England and Wales have parity with the excellent example in Scotland, where accessing rape crisis support services is a right not a privilege. In the longer term, increased and secure funding is clearly needed to prevent this crisis from arising again.”
Lynne Featherstone MP, Liberal Democrat Youth and Equalities Spokesperson
“This is a fantastic first step in the New Statesman‘s campaign, but this is only stopgap funding for people who are the victims of sexual violence. The harsh reality is that almost half of all Rape Crisis centres have closed since 1984. The government needs to be taking real long-term action to reverse this terminal decline.”
Baroness Joyce Gould, Chair of the Women’s National Commission
“…It is a relief that the Government has responded before the end of this current financial year to the appeal. Most Rape Crisis Centres are in critical situations in terms of their funding and this announcement will allow groups to remain open so they will no longer have to reduce or freeze their service provision to the victims of sexual violence…” (To read more of Baroness Joyce Gould’s comments on Rape Crisis funding click here.)
Margaret Curran, Scottish Labour politician who secured funding for Rape Crisis north of the border
“I’m not terribly familiar with the funding systems in other parts of the UK but I am sure this must be a very welcome announcement from Harriet Harman. Harriet has a long track record on women’s rights and issues in relation to sexual violence and will grasp the real importance of these services and the need to address the issues in the short and long term. I have always known the women active in these fields – Domestic Abuse, Rape Crisis – and others to be smart campaigners.”
Professor Liz Kelly, Chair of End Violence Against Women
“We warmly welcome the announcement of emergency funding to put a brake on more Rape Crisis Centres from closing. But we cannot be in the same situation in 12 months time. This should be the first step in developing a long-term funding strategy as part of a wider cross-government action plan to tackle violence against women.”
Dr Katherine Rake, Director of the Fawcett Society
“Harriet Harman’s announcements today are a very welcome sign that the government is recognising the urgency of the funding crisis faced by rape crisis centres. This funding will provide a lifeline to centres which are at risk of imminent closure, and make a very real difference to the lives of women accessing these services. However, this short-term injection of cash does not take away the need for long-term solutions to the severe funding shortages faced by rape crisis services. It is still the case that three out of four local authorities have no services for victims of rape. We would like to see the government ringfencing adequate funding for a network of rape crisis services to be established right across the country.”
Davina James-Hanman, Director of the Greater London Domestic Violence Project
“This is wonderful news as it will help to secure the immediate future of those Rape Crisis Centres who otherwise faced imminent closure. Much more importantly, however, is the commitment to develop a secure and longer term funding strategy so that this vital service can continue to survive and grow to meet the huge demands placed upon them. Congratulations to the New Statesman for helping to raise this issue!”
Jo Wood, Rape Crisis in Merseyside
“While we are absolutely delighted and unbelievably relieved at this funding being made available, it will only provide us with breathing space for the next 12 months. Here in Merseyside, we need to work in partnership with the Local Authorities and the PCTs in Wirral, Liverpool and Sefton to ensure that the “National Indicator 26” targets are met and that we provide a solid, reliable, professional service for the women and girls of Merseyside who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives. We know we are not reaching all the survivors who need us. With sustainable funding, we can reach so many more women who have no recourse to such specialised services and help them to recover their independence and move on with their lives. Right now we spend far too much of our time chasing funding. We can never plan beyond the next few months. Survivors of rape deserve better treatment than this. It needs to be a priority not an afterthought.”
Vivienne Hayes, Director of the Women’s Resource Centre
“We’re very pleased with this announcement of emergency funding of £1m, which will ensure that the Rape Crisis centres under threat of imminent closure will now be saved. We’re also extremely pleased that the Minister for Women has demonstrated some political will, and that the Government seems to be listening to the call for a cross-departmental approach to funding the Rape Crisis sector. We hope this is the beginning of long-term sustainable funding into the Rape Crisis sector, in order at address the shameful lack of investment into these vital services. Every woman and girl should have access to a Rape Crisis centre – this must be a right, not a privilege.”
Joanna Bourke, Author of Rape: A History from the 1860s to Present
“Emergency funding should start the process of remedying an emergency. It is with relief, therefore, that we hear Harriet Harman, Minister for Women, announce new funding of up to £1 million, dedicated in part to keeping rape crisis centres open…” Click here to read the rest of Joanna Burke’s comment on the £1 million funding.
Beatrix Campbell, Writer, broadcaster and campaigner
“Excellent. This shows how important it is to have a champion in the government who understands the issue, who doesn’t need persuasion, and who has the power to do something useful.”
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