[WiLT] SARCs Fund: Provision for Sexual Assault Referral Centres - apply by 7th Nov 2008

[WiL Admin]

SARCs Fund: Provision for Sexual Assault Referral Centres

Funding area: England and Wales
Status: Open for applications
Next Application Deadline: 07/11/2008

Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) are one-stop locations where
victims of sexual assault can receive medical care and counselling,
and have the opportunity to assist police investigations into alleged
offences. Funding is available for existing SARCS as well as
partnerships of police forces and Primary Care Trusts (or Local Health
Boards in Wales), Crime and Disorder Partnerships (or Community Safety
Partnerships in Wales), and voluntary sector organisations that plan
to develop a SARC in their area. Applications from partnerships led by
voluntary organisations are also eligible, as long as the relevant
statutory partners are included. For the new round the 2008/09 and
2009/10 SARC spending rounds will be combined.

Total Fund Value: £ 1,600,000 - The Total Fund Value comprises of £1
million capital funding and £600,000 resource funding.

SARCs are widely recognised as presenting the way forward for
provision of services to victims in the immediate aftermath of rape
and sexual assault, and form a key element of the Cross Government
Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse, announced by the Home Office
on 2 April 2007.

At present there are 22 centres operating across England and Wales
with many more centres under development. Close partnership working
between key agencies - CDRPs (Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnerships), the police, PCTs (primary Care Trusts), and voluntary
sector organisations - is crucial for the operation of a SARC.
CDRPs/CSPs (Community Safety Partnerships) co-ordinate local work to
address crime and disorder and they include police, health and Local
Authorities.

The role of voluntary organisations in SARCs varies, but is always an
important one. At the very least, there should be referral routes
between SARCs and local specialist sexual violence services for use in
cases where clients have a preference for counselling away from the
centre (e.g. women only service) or need ongoing counselling; and
where it is appropriate for users of these services to be referred on
to a SARC.

If you are considering setting up a SARC, HMRC suggest that the
following documents will be useful:
* Getting Started Guide
* Developing SARCs - National Service Guidelines
* Medical Care following Sexual Assault: Guidelines for SARCs
* SARCS: Developing good Practice and Maximising Potentials
* A Gap or a Chasm? Attrition in reported rape cases

Other useful documents are also listed in the 'Documents and Links'
section at the bottom of this notice.

For further information about this year's SARC funding process, please
see the list of Frequently Asked Questions.

The latest Home Office press release regarding funding to tackle
sexual and domestic violence can be found at:
http://www.wired-gov.net/news

**** Please Note: A new development this year is that the 2008/09 and
2009/10 SARC spending rounds will be combined. ****

This means that:
* SARCs will be able to apply in November 2008 for funding for both
spending rounds.
* SARCs not in a position in November 2008 to bid for the 2009/10
funding round will have an opportunity do so in April 2009.This is
when a further funding round will be announced to spend the remainder
of the 2009/10 budget.

Only existing SARCs can apply for resource funding. Further funding
restriction are:
* applications are only considered for SARCs within England and Wales;
* applications from individuals are not eligible;
* funding is not provided to support party political activities;
* only existing SARCs that are operating can apply for existing
funding.

Key Criteria:

If you are applying for funding for a new SARC:
* the Home Office strongly recommend that applications are submitted
jointly by police forces, Primary Care Trusts (PCT(s), and any local
sexual violence voluntary sector organisations;
* applications should also be supported by the local Crime and
Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). (Please note that references to
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in the guidance notes and application forms
should be read as references to Local Health Boards for applicants in
Wales);
* you will only be able to bid for one off capital start up funding in
either the 2008/09 or 2009/10 spending round.

If you are applying for funding for an existing SARC:
* you will be able to bid for capital and/or resource funding in both
the 2008/09 and 2009/10 spending rounds.

Capital funding includes grants for:
* building refurbishment;
* furnishings;
* medical equipment; and
* office equipment.

Resource funding includes grants for:
* staff costs;
* publicity and publishing booklets or leaflets;
* training;
* service charges; and
* maintenance of premises.

In the last round of funding, 10 grants totalling over £600,000 were
awarded. Awards of £70,000 each were made to the following new SARCs:
Cardiff; Carmarthenshire; Nottingham; Bristol; Aylesbury Thames
Valley; Barnsley. Existing SARCS were also awarded funding: Exeter
(£70,000 Development Grant); Truro (£70,000 Development Grant);
Norfolk (£40,000 Development Grant); Portsmouth (£20,000 Top Up
Grant).

There are 22 sexual assault referral centres now operating throughout
England and Wales with many other centres in development, due to open
in the coming months.

**** The deadline for applications is 7 November 2008. ****

For applications to set up new SARCS use the New SARCs Application
Form and refer to the Guidelines for new SARCs Application Form. If
you are an existing SARC use the Existing SARC Application Form.

Applicants should know the outcome of their applications by December
2008.

Please Note: The 2008/09 and 2009/10 SARC spending rounds will be
combined. This means that:

SARCs will be able to apply in November 2008 for funding for both
spending rounds.
SARCs not in a position in November 2008 to bid for the 2009/10
funding round will have an opportunity do so in April 2009.This is
when a further funding round will be announced to spend the remainder
of the 2009/10 budget.

For further information please contact Lyndsay Gittus at the Violent
Crimes Unit:

Lyndsay Gittus
Violent Crime Unit
Home Office
4th Floor Peel
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Phone: 020 7035 3123
Email: lyndsay.gittus at homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

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Documents and Links

Appendix
* Getting Started Guide
* Guidelines for Developing SARCs
* Medical Care following Sexual Assault: Guidelines for SARCs
* SARCS: Developing good Practice and Maximising Potentials
* A Gap or a Chasm? Attrition in reported rape cases
* The National SARC Minimum Standards
* Good Practice in Medical Responses Reported Rape, especially
Forensic Examination

Application Form
* New SARCs Application Form
* Existing SARCS Application Form
* Guidelines for new SARCs Application Form

Guidance
* Home Office SARCS webpage
* Home Office SARCS General Information webpage
* SARCS Frequently Asked Questions

Useful Links
* Home Office Press Release - More Support for Victims of Sexual
Violence (27/09/07)
* List of Sexual Assault Referral Centres

To read the full notice and for the links to the various further
readings and downloads please go to
http://www.governmentfunding.org.uk/VCSSearch.aspx?WCI=htmSchemeView&WCU=DSCODE=DSCLIVEGF,SCHEMEID=12-S71,SEARCH=DS=DSCLIVEGF