Sexual abuse support charity fears for future

Andy Watts says Staffordshire charity SARAC helped him deal with years of sexual abuse as a child

"Not talking about it sets up a barrier. You become isolated because you’ve got this secret inside."

Andy Watts is standing proudly in front of a wall of his paintings and sketches at the Brewhouse Arts Centre, in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire.

It is his first public exhibition since his abuser was jailed. And this is the first time Mr Watts has spoken on camera about his experience.

To the left are self-reflective portraits depicting human suffering, of a young person cowering, hands over face, and an image of a being protected by a lioness.

To the right, bright, multi-coloured paintings of animals, strong and bold.

In the late 1990s, Andy was raped and sexually abused by Alun Kyte – a man dubbed the Midlands ripper – after he murdered two sex workers in Staffordshire.

Andy was lured to his home with the promise of toys before he attacked him. It was a five year campaign of abuse.

Kyte, who was already serving a double life sentence – received a third in May 2023, and he’ll serve a minimum of 10 years and eight months in prison for his abuse of Andy.

"There was a real strong threat that if I told anyone he would come after my family and you’re holding stuff back.

"Kids are quite resilient and you try and shut it away and not think about it. But, as you grow up, it’s still there and you don’t have the brain elasticity you have as a child to simply shut it off and move forwards."

The 44-year-old has waived his right to anonymity to highlight the funding predicament of a charity that helped him "find his voice".

Mr Watts' art work is on public display for the first time since his abuser was jailed

The Sexual Abuse Rape Advice Centre (SARAC) – based in Burton-upon-Trent – has supported hundreds of survivors of sexual abuse from the age of 11 upwards.

But as the charity reaches its milestone 30-year anniversary, it is struggling to attract funding, while there’s been soaring demand for its services across Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

During the past two years, it has supported 193 young people between 11-18, and 120 adults have received face-to-face counselling.

An additional 300 people have requested support over the past 12 months.

However, a mix of public and private funding will soon run out, leaving the possibility that its services might be contracted out, and staff let go.

"Currently we’ve got six to nine months of reserves for running costs", says Catherine Miles, SARAC chief executive.

"We’re putting applications in on a weekly basis for grants, we’re looking for further opportunities.

"The bottom line is if we don’t get something in quite quickly, we’re going to have to stop doing what we are doing, possibly close our waiting list and people will end up having to go elsewhere."

Andy Watts is backing the bid to win new funding from local businesses in Burton – who could be offered mental heath and sexual abuse awareness training if they form partnerships.

The charity, he told me, had supported him throughout the criminal justice process, from helping him give his account of abuse to the police to counselling following the trial.

"When he (Kyte) was sentenced, there was a strong sense of closure but it doesn’t go away, it’s always there but you have the feeling of being believed.

"I’ve gone and told people what happened and been believed.

“Without SARAC, I wouldn’t have been able to talk so openly about it with the police."

Catherine Miles from SARAC said current funding will only take the charity into 2025

Mr Watts said he hoped the new government would follow up on its pre-election manifesto pledge to improve support for victims.

There are also plans to bring in specialist rape and sexual offences teams in every police force.

"We need education, there is a lot of shame put on the victims.

"There’s also a lot of (state) support that goes to the perpetrators, and victims are left supported by charities and that shouldn’t be the case."

Catherine Miles, SARAC’s chief executive, said she was proud of Mr Watts' journey and hopes his story will encourage others to feel they can come forward to seek advice or direct support.

But there’s now an urgency, with the charity's current reserves only just taking them into 2025.

"At the moment, there seems to be fewer opportunities for funding and far more charities are in need of it, so basically it’s supply and demand.

"Unfortunately we’re having to have conversations about now with our board about contracting the service, and look at ending contracts with some of our staff members."