The RASA Merseyside centre faces drastic changes due to funding cuts, leaving staff and victims devastated and concerned about future support.
RASA has been helping around 600 victims at any given time, offering advice and counseling. But after the pandemic, requests for help skyrocketed. They went from a small team to 40 staff members to keep up with demand. Last year alone, they took on nearly 2,800 new clients, with many being children.
But now, the Ministry of Justice is planning to cut their funding, which hasn’t changed since 2019. Lorraine Wood, the Operations Manager, expressed her anger, especially since Merseyside has a serious issue with violence against women. The cuts mean they’ll have to let go of staff and reduce services, which is heartbreaking.
RASA is looking at a £100,000 shortfall this year. They might have to cut essential roles, including an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor. Lorraine worries about the impact on clients, as waiting times for counseling could jump from nine months to a year or more.
Despite the government’s promises to tackle violence against women, Lorraine feels let down. They’ve been told to report on their new services soon, but it’s hard to see how they can continue without proper funding. RASA is now asking the public for help, hoping to raise £100,000 to keep their services running. They’ve already raised over £4,000 in just a week, showing how much support there is for their cause. Lorraine urges everyone to recognize the importance of their work and not to ignore the issue of sexual violence in their communities.
