Victim Support

Victim Support is an independent charity in England and Wales that provides specialist practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses of crime.

Activities
Support for victims of crime
Trained volunteers and employees offer free and confidential practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses of crime. In 2017, the charity had contact with over 800,000 victims of crime across England and Wales to offer information and support. As well as emotional support the charity provides victims with practical help, such as making their home secure after a burglary, applying for compensation, help with re-housing or accessing mental health and other specialised services through the NHS.
Supportline
A free 24/7 telephone helpline offering confidential support and advice to anyone affected by crime in England and Wales - 08 08 16 89 111.
Specialist services
  • The national Homicide Service, helping families in England and Wales who've been bereaved by murder or manslaughter
  • Local services helping victims of any crime, including domestic or sexual violence, anti-social behaviour and hate crime
  • Local services for young victims of crime,[1] including specialist support for children who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault and grooming
  • Restorative justice programmes
Research
Victim Support's research team look into the issues facing victims of crime and make recommendations, based on evidence, on how to tackle those problems to government.[2] police, criminal justice and other organisations.
Fundraising
The charity is funded by public donations along with funding awards made by grant-making bodies and services commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioners.
Volunteering
Volunteers are trained to work directly with victims and witnesses of crime or to be a fundraiser.[3][4]

History
Victims' services
The first Victim Support scheme was set up in Bristol in 1974. The charity's founders included staff from the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (now NACRO), the police and probation services. By 1986, every county in England and Wales had at least one Victim Support scheme. Victim Support registered as a charitable company in 1987 and in 2008, all local services merged to create a single national federation in England and Wales.
Homicide Service
Since 1985, the charity has run the Homicide Service, supporting people bereaved by murder or manslaughter.[5]
Witness Service
The charity set up the national Witness Service in 1989 and supported its development to cover both all Crown Court centres and all the magistrates' courts in England and Wales. The Witness Service was run by Victim Support until April 2015.
Supportline
In 1998, Victim Support's free national telephone helpline for victims and witnesses was established. Since the 2017 Westminster attack and the other terrorist attacks that year, the Supportline has been provided 24/7.

Officials
  • Chair: Andrew Tivey
  • Chief Officer: Diana Fawcett

Notable Former Officials
  • Former Chief Executive: Dame Helen Reeves DBE. Dame Helen served the charity for 26 years, retiring in 2005.

Research reports

References
  1. "Who can child abuse victims turn to?". Bbc.co.uk. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  2. Association, Press (14 September 2014). "Chris Grayling unveils victims' rights reforms". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-05-04. Retrieved 2015-05-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Fyffe, Marie (11 April 2014). "A day in the life of ... a victim support volunteer". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  5. https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/what-we-do/national-services/homicide-service
  6. "Young victims fail to report six out of seven offences". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
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