The Aardvarks are delighted to share the news that Birmingham charity RSVP have had Lottery success!
Big Lottery grant enables RSVP to support more survivors of sexual violence in Birmingham and Solihull.
The Rape and Sexual Violence Project (RSVP) has been awarded a four-year grant of £428,998 by the Big Lottery Fund’s “Reaching Communities” programme.
RSVP, a charity based in Birmingham and Solihull, supports victims to cope and recover following sexual abuse. It offers one-to-one specialist sexual abuse counselling from its premises in Birmingham city centre and its outreach sites across Birmingham and Solihull, and independent advocacy to support those who have reported abuse, and are going through police and court processes.
“These funds will enable us to support more children, women and men, affected by sexual violence and abuse to make positive meaningful changes to live a future with hope and confidence”, says Lisa Thompson, Chief Executive. “More importantly, we can respond to their needs much more quickly and effectively. We are extremely thankful for this funding from The Big Lottery”.
This award means RSVP can give counselling to 120 more people per year for the next 4 years. More people will benefit, like this survivor who wrote of their experience of RSVP services, ““RSVP counselling gives you the opportunity to talk openly about what happened to you, in a way which is too hard to do with friends or family. RSVP literally saved my life and gave me my future back.”
RSVP also supports the newly-established Abuse Survivors Clinic at Whittall Street Clinic run by Umbrella – a new sexual health service for Birmingham and Solihull, managed by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
Gill currently works with Lisa Thompson and her team supporting RSVP with their marketing.