Rising Sun DVAS wins funding from Big Lottery to secure futures for girls who are at risk of exploitation and abuse
Kent charity, Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse Service has received funding of £520,043 from the Big Lottery women & girls initiative. The funding will underpin Project Liberty, a three year project to support local women & girls who are at risk of being exploited and abused.
Last year the Big Lottery announced they were investing over £48.5million across the country to support projects specifically for women and girls. Over a 1,000 charities applied and through the selection process they selected 63 projects from around the country, with one Kent project being chosen.
Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse Service were successful with their application for Project Liberty to be delivered across Ashford, Canterbury and Swale, reaching over 270 women and girls, aged between 11 and 24 years. The project will be delivered in partnership with SATEDA, who supports those living with domestic abuse in Swale.
Anne Lyttle, Rising Sun’s Service Director states, “We are delighted to prepare for the launch of Project Liberty. We have been working in Canterbury and Swale for the past three years with a similar project, so had identified a need for this work. We also deliver different programmes to children, adolescents and adults in Ashford, so we are pleased that we can now extend this vital service there too. We are very grateful to the Big Lottery for their confidence in us, financing a significant proportion of the £650,000 project.”
Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse Service has over 35 years’ experience of working with adults, families and children who live with or have lived with domestic abuse. Related issues for young people have become more prevalent, so the service has been working with girls at risk for over 10 years.
Anne Lyttle continues, “In December 2015, the Home Office set out statutory guidance to define controlling behaviour and coercive behaviour, recognising it as a form of abuse. Being able to provide long term mentoring and therapeutic support will be vital in helping girls who are at risk of exploitation and abuse to have a better future, reduce risk-taking behaviour and improve their aspirations. Good quality interventions and support can make the difference between short-term safety or simply surviving abuse and living a secure and fulfilled life. Our goal is to reduce the impact of domestic violence and abuse in the longer term and it is essential that a range of provisions is in place to meet the needs of women and girls”.
Kent County Council and the Kent Police Crime Commission are also supporting Project Liberty. However, Rising Sun DVAS still rely on the support from the local community to continue to provide the much-needed service. In September, an exhibition is to be held in the Beaney Library, Canterbury, to present artwork created by young people who have been supported by Rising Sun DVAS’s programmes. Anne explains, “It’s a great opportunity to showcase the positive outcomes of the service. We would welcome our community to come and meet with us there to learn more about our vital work.”
To support Rising Sun Domestic Violence and Abuse Service you can get involved with our annual Jump4theSun in September, walking the London to Brighton route, or raise funds at work. Offers from volunteers are also welcome. To find out more call on 01227 452852
