Government boost to increase sex counselling services
Survivors of sexual attacks are to receive increased support thanks to £20,000 worth of government funding, reports Portsmouth based paper, The News.
The Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre will use the government payout to offer more counselling services for victims.
Since the centres opening in 2006 victims from the Isle of Wight have been travelling across the Solent to the centre based in Cosham to receive their counselling.
Now, with thanks to the funding, the NHS Portsmouth, Hampshire Constabulary and Portsmouth City Council which provide the service, plan to set up more convenient and accessible sessions on the island itself. This way island locals can receive counselling without having to travel all the way across the solent.
Centre manager Mary Bridgman said: ‘People living on the island have always been able to access our services, but it’s less convenient for them as it involves travelling across the Solent… Now we would like to offer outreach counselling on the island itself, thanks to this funding.’
Over 1,000 victims have received specialist help and counseling from Treetops since its establishment in 2006.