1st August 2008

Dear Prime Minister,

As you are aware, the prevalence of sexual violence is, unfortunately, extremely high, with a conservative estimate of at least 80,000 women being raped every year.

The Government’s Sexual Violence and Abuse Action Plan acknowledges that sexual violence is a gendered crime, overwhelmingly perpetrated by men against women and children. It is both a cause and a consequence of gender inequality. The Action Plan goes on to say that “sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse are two of the most serious and damaging crimes in our society”.

The impact of sexual violence is significant and long-term, affecting physical and mental health, ability to work or study, and disruption in intimate relationships. The cost to the state of sexual violence was £8.5 billion in 2003-04, with much of this cost being lost outputs due to long-term health issues.

Rape Crisis centres provide essential, holistic services to support women and girls to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of sexual violence, whether their experiences happened recently or in the past. They provide specialist, long-term support, counselling and advocacy in women-only spaces which empower survivors to take back control of their lives.

Yet most women do not have access to a Rape Crisis centre in the UK (Map of Gaps research), and Rape Crisis centres are massively under-funded, resulting in ever-growing waiting lists, staff redundancies and closure of services, with devastating impacts on women who need support. One in five centres has closed in the last five years, and new research (The Crisis in
Rape Crisis research), has found that: Rape Crisis centres in England and Wales have a combined annual income of just £3.5 million; 79% of grants are for one year or less and; the majority of women and girls have to wait over 3 months to access this ‘crisis’ provision.

Many women and girls will experience sexual violence – and they deserve to have the choice to access specialist support that meets their needs. This can only happen if the sustainability of the Rape Crisis sector is urgently addressed.

We warmly welcomed the March 2008 announcement by Harriet Harman MP, Minister for Women, of emergency funding of £1 million for Rape Crisis centres. This money will stop the imminent closures of Rape Crisis centres this year. However, what is needed now is a firm political commitment to providing adequate, sustainable and long-term funding to Rape Crisis centres. The Scottish model of providing ‘ring-fenced’ Rape Crisis funding is an excellent example, as this has not only helped to build the capacity of existing groups, but has also ensured that new centres have opened to address the geographical gaps in service provision for survivors of rape and other sexual violence.

We ask you to urge your Cabinet ministers, including the Inter-Ministerial
Group on Sexual Violence, to implement a sustainable business model for the
Rape Crisis sector in the longer term, and to develop a Violence Against Women Strategy, as a matter of urgent priority. Any discussions need to include representatives from all of the Departments involved in contributing towards the emergency funding (the Department for Communities and Local
Government, Government Equalities Office, Department for Health, Home
Office, Ministry of Justice, and the Cabinet Office) and representatives from the Rape Crisis sector.

Signed by:

Vivienne Hayes, Chief Executive, Women's Resource Centre
Dr Nicole Westmarland, Chair, Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
Sheila Coates, Director, South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC)
Liz Kelly, Director, Child and Women Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU) and Chair, End Violence Against Women (EVAW)
Theresa May, Conservative MP for Maidenhead, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Shadow Minister for Women
Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green and Liberal Democrat Youth and Equalities Spokesperson
Baroness Joyce Gould, Chair, Women's National Commission
Shere Hite, researcher and author
Suzanne Moore, journalist, Mail on Sunday
Deborah Orr, journalist, The Independent
Louise Court, Editor, Cosmopolitan
Beatrix Campbell, journalist
Kira Cochrane, Women’s Editor, Guardian
Polly Toynbee, columnist, Guardian
Julie Bindel, journalist
Natasha Walter, journalist
Lisa Cooper, journalist
Fay Mansell, Chair, National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI)
Katherine Rake, Director, Fawcett Society
Sally Copley, Director of Policy, Research and Campaigns, YWCA England and Wales
Sue Turrell, Executive Director, WOMANKIND Worldwide
Shami Chakrabarti, Director, Liberty
Julie Bentley, Chief Executive, Family Planning Association (fpa)
Dana Hovig, Chief Executive, Marie Stopes International
Ben Hughes, Chief Executive, British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres (bassac)
Kevin Curley, Chief Executive, National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA)
Stephen Bubb, Chief Executive, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO)
Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive, Directory of Social Change (DSC)
Elizabeth Balgobin, Chief Executive, London Voluntary Service Council (LVSC)
Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive, National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Helen Rice, Chair, Women’s Resource Centre
Sumanta Roy, Acting Director, Imkaan
Marcia Lewinson, Director, Women Acting in Today's Society (WAITS)
Pragna Patel, Chair, Southall Black Sisters
Parvin Ali, Chief Executive, FATIMA Women's Network
Nicola Harwin, Chief Executive, Women's Aid Federation of England
Sandra Horley, Chief Executive, Refuge
Denise Marshall, Chief Executive, Eaves Women's Aid, Poppy Project and Lilith Project
Juliette Colman, Chair, National Alliance of Womens Organisations in England (NAWO)
Emma Scott, Acting Director, Rights of Women
Stephen Hammersley, Chief Executive, Community Foundation Network
Mark Reedman, Chief Executive, Consortium of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Voluntary and Community Organisations
Katie Curtis, National Women's Officer, National Union of Students (NUS)
Vandna Gohil, Chief Executive, Voice4Change England
Christine Russell, Manager, Aylesbury Vale Rape Crisis
Katie Russell, Project Manager, Barnsley Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Helpline (BSARCH)
Judi Evans, Chairperson, Basingstoke Rape and Sexual Abuse Crisis Centre (BRASACC)
Jane Gregory, Co-ordinator, Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Centre
Jools Connell, Rape Crisis Counsellor, Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Centre
Sarah Cotton, Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Centre
Shabnam Dalawar, Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Centre
Elaine Hutton, Bristol Rape Crisis
Helen Wakeford, Trustee, Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre
Helen Smith, Volunteer Counsellor, Chester Sexual Violence Support Service (formerly Chester Rape Crisis)
Lindsey Rae, Chester Sexual Violence Support Centre (formerly Chester Rape Crisis)
Lindsey Read, Manager, Colchester Rape Crisis Line
Alison Foxford, Colchester Rape Crisis Line
Lisa Britton, Colchester Rape Crisis Line
Diane Whitfield, Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre
Nicki Stott, Practice Manager, Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre
Jacqui Bowman, Manager, Derbyshire Rape Crisis
Amber Dickinson, Derbyshire Rape Crisis
Penny Flintoff, Development Officer, Doncaster Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre
Sue Hemsley, Project Co-ordinator, East Kent Rapeline
Kay Davies, Project Manager, Eva Women's Aid/Rape Crisis
Mandy Ollero, Co-ordinator, Gloucestershire Rape Crisis Centre
Herts Area Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre
Helen Moore, Hull Rape Crisis
Louise Edwards, Independent Sexual Violence Advisor, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (Cheshire and Merseyside)
Lou Moultrie, Independent Sexual Violence Advisor, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (Cheshire and Merseyside)
Tracy Mulleague, Counsellor, Kirklees Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre
Anne Wilkinson, Kirklees Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre
Deborah Parr, Kirklees Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre
Stella Lanning, Leicester Rape Crisis
Anne Stebbings, Project Manager, Manchester Rape Crisis
Chris Bennett, Coordinator, National Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
Angie Conroy, Policy Officer, National Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
Clare Green, Northamptonshire Rape and Incest Crisis Centre
Novlet Holness, Chief Executive Officer, Nottingham Rape Crisis Centre
Laura Swift, Volunteer, Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre
Genevieve Quist, Volunteer, Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre
Helen Smith, Volunteer, Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre
Gay Hutchings-Hay, Volunteer, Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre
Wendy Hicks, Treasurer, Peterborough Rape Crisis
Fiona Elvines, Helpline Co-ordinator, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Jane England, Counselling Co-ordinator, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Veronica Double, Group Therapist, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Emma Saddleton, Shift Leader, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Justine Isembert, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Cath Kerry, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Jo Wood, Service Coordinator, Rape and Sexual Abuse (RASA) Centre Merseyside
Lynne Hinde, Centre Manager, Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre (Darlington and Co. Durham Rape Crisis)
Katherine Moseley, Manager, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (North Wales)
Mary Eleftheriou, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre and Sutton Women's Centre
Kerry Outlaw, Trustee, Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Croydon (RASASC)
Stephanie Evans, Student Counsellor, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (Cheshire and Mersyside)
Christina Diamandopoulos, Director, Rape Crisis (Wycombe, Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire)
Lynn Smith, Senior Manager, SAIL (Sexual Abuse and Incest Line)
Patricia Read, Chief Officer, Savana
Rebekah Brant, Advocacy and Policy Officer, South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC)
Lee Eggleston, Operations Manager, South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC)
Leila Brou, Sexual Violence Advocacy and Counsellor, South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC)
Paula Mason, Sexual Violence Advocacy and Counsellor, South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC)
Sandra Boyles-West, Sexual Violence Advocacy and Counsellor, South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC)
Sarah Cresswell, Sexual Violence Advocacy and Counsellor, South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC)
Toni Keryell-Emmerson, Service Co-ordinator, Sexual Violence Alliance (SeVA)
Sheila Mudadi-Billings, Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service
Julie Howorth, Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service
Jo McHugh, Community Involvement Officer, Spirita (Housing Association) and Derby Rape Crisis
Penny Remfry, Chair, Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre
Jale Apicella, Chair, Watford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre
Linda Radcliffe, Manager, West Cumbria Rape Crisis
Sabrina Qureshi, Women and Girls Network
Maggie Parks, Agency Director, Womens Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (Cornwall)
Jocelyn Anderson, Chief Officer, Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Denise Griffiths, Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Maureen Howell, Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Natalie Boughtflower, Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Sian Patterson, Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Vienna Duff, Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Holly Dustin, Manager, End Violence Against Women (EVAW)
Sara Sutherland, Administrative and Information Co-ordinator, Greater London Domestic Violence Project (GLDVP)
C. Macauley, Lambeth Women's Aid
Sarah Edwards, Research and Good Practice Officer, Lilith Project
Sarita Jain, Honorary Chairwoman, Luton All Women Centre
Farah Nazeer, Head of Public Affairs, National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI)
Jana Osbourne, General Secretary, National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI)
Cate Briddick, Legal Officer, Rights of Women
Lucy Jaffe, Trustee, Women’s Resource Centre (WRC)
Lynda Dearlove, Director, women@thewell
Jane Williams, Senior Administrator, Wycombe Counselling Service
Jan Goodyear, Co-ordiantor, South London Fawcett Group
Cath Elliott, Chair, Unison Eastern Region Women's Committee
Lisa Mok, Assistant Director, Wai Yin Chinese Women Society
Leanne Price, Co-Chair, Oxford University Student Union's Women's Campaign
Sian Renwick, Graduate Women’s Officer, Oxford University Students' Union Women's Campaign
Jackie Patiniotis, Joint Forum Development Worker, The Joint Fourm
Afua Twum-Danso, UK/Europe Regional Co-ordinator, Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA)
Narrinda Kaur-Smith, Reception/Admin, Bradford Community and Voluntary Service
Amanda Ehrenstein, Cardiff University
Anne Adum Boisard, Clinical hypnotherapist/E.F.T
Kate Diggory, Counsellor and EQ Coach
Jean Godber, Derby Constabulary
Caroline Rowsell, Strategic Development Officer, Domestic and Sexual Violence Sefton Borough Council
Jan Irwin, Project Manager, Families Without Fear
Mike Beazley, Organisation Development Manager, Family Welfare Association
Emma Insley, Director, Get Connected
Gillie Jenkinson, Director, Hope Valley Counselling Limited
Henry Radice, London School of Economics (LSE)
Louise Garner, Director of Projects and Services, London Voluntary Service Council (LVSC)
Macarena Vergara, Learning and Collaboration Officer, National Equality Partnership (NEP)
Ria Brookes, Internal Communications Executive, Nitro
Christine Blake, The Bowlby Centre
K. Wingfield, The Bowlby Centre
Ranjit Kaur
Constance McCullagh
Antony Weatherhead
Caroline Dyer
Charlotte Traynor
Claire Haslam
Clare Clements
Elizabeth M Flanagan
Emily Crook
Gaggandip Sandhu
Helen Weatherhead
Inger Wong
Jacqui Lepoittevin
Janey Bowstead
Jenny March
Kati Herranen
Neil Jurd
Pat Connolly
Sarah Dunnakey
Lucy Erber
Kathy Parkev
Booan Temple
Mary Wigzell
Sonya Aleksic
Virinia Harrison
Maureen Austin
Anne Wingfield
Helen Parales
Terry Schiff

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