Thursday, June 13, 2024

Why We Signed The Rape Crisis England & Wales Petition & Why You Should Too

Last week, we signed a petition for Rape Crisis England and Wales where they are campaigning for political parties to commit to keeping the life-saving Rape Crisis Centres open despite the UK General Election. The Government’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund is a core aspect to the funding of these Centres, but there has been no official commitment from any political party to extend that Funding beyond March 2025 and this puts the future of the Centres at great risk…

The Petition (facilitated by you.38degrees.org.uk – the full link will be at the end of the piece) relies upon the sad and worrying statistics and data around rape and sexual abuse. They mention the fact that 6.5 million women have been raped or sexually assaulted after the age of 1, that 1 in 6 Children experience sexual abuse, and that women abused by their partner are seven times more likely to attempt suicide.

That last statistic regarding suicide attempts, are one massive reason why Rape Crisis Centres are so important and beneficial because they can be so fundamental in providing trauma-informed support for Survivors in England and Wales. Despite their life-saving impact though, decades of underfunding and the risk and chance that funding may be completely pulled next year, mean that so many Centres area facing closure. Rape Crisis are expressing that the desperate need for adequate, long-term, and sustainable funding can come with any political party pledging in their manifesto to recommission the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund from March 2025. Doing this, will provide security for the Centres to continue providing their much-needed facilities and services.

Shake My Hand’s Founder; a Survivor of rape and sexual abuse, has actually made four suicide attempts herself, with two resulting in her being placed on life support machines in Intensive Care. The first instance of her being on life support meant that when she was brought out of the coma, she was sectioned under the 1983 Mental Health Act and transferred to a specialist psychiatric hospital over 100 miles away from home. Whilst in this hospital, our Founder – Aimee – went AWOL whilst on unescorted leave and made her fourth attempt. After she was finally found by Police, she was blue lighted to A&E, and placed in a coma on life support again; this time for a lot longer as her organs became unwell.

Aimee’s attempts

Her experience, knowledge, and understanding of just how crucial it can be for rape and sexual abuse Survivors to secure the right help and support, has really influenced our support and respect for this Petition. So, we’d like to encourage our own followers to sign it too; it’s a very easy process that will take a matter of minutes but which has the potential to have such a massive impact! So, please go visit: Save Rape Crisis centres from a funding crisis | 38 Degrees

For more information about Rape Crisis England and Wales:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

You can also use this page on their website to find and locate your nearest Rape Crisis Centre:

Find your local Rape Crisis centre | Rape Crisis England & Wales

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