Select a region
A local charity that supports survivors of sexual assault is set to improve its training offering and extend its services to under-18s thanks to a £130k Government grant.
Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) has received £130,000 from the Government to expand and enhance its services to 16- and 17-year-olds affected by sexual trauma.
This will allow the charity to reach more survivors and improve the support it delivers through its counselling service.
Although the age cannot be lowered below 16 due to the need for appropriate safeguarding and premises, JAAR estimates that there is a demand of around 15-18 clients per year in the 16- and 17-year-old age group.
The grant will also facilitate improved professional development for JAAR's counsellors, offering enhanced opportunities for specialised training and professional qualifications.
CEO of the charity and former Education Minister Tracey Le Brocq said: “Training for sexual violence needs to be customised for the needs of clients.
“As our service is predominantly human service based the more tools our counsellors can obtain to improve their practice but more importantly improve outcomes for clients is essential for our service.”
The need for specialised and regularly reviewed training programmes using a trauma-informed approach was recently identified by a report on violence against women and girls published last month by an independent task force.
Pictured: Some of the research findings published by the Jersey Independent Taskforce on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) last month.
The report said: “This will ensure that all support workers working with victim-survivors have received adequate and regular levels of training on the dynamics of violence against women and girls.”
The funding will also support digitalisation efforts to boost efficiency.
Ms Le Brocq said: “Our digitisation programme is about efficiency and reducing hours of admin on the counselling side to ensure time is better-spent face to face with clients and ensures security and meets data protection principles.”
The grant also allows JAAR to improve the efficiency of its newly-formed database to improve reporting and accounting for agency work.
Jersey Action Against Rape, founded in 2014, is an independent and confidential service supporting people to recover from the trauma of sexual violence.
If you or someone you know has experienced rape or sexual assault, you can phone their confidential helpline on 01534 482800 or email help@jaar.je for support.
Those aged between four and 17 years old who have been impacted by sexual trauma can access support through the NSPCC’s therapeutic service, Letting The Future In.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.