'Charity closure is devastating for women' - boss

Suffolk Rape Crisis will still have signpost information available on its website despite its closure

The boss of a charity said its closure was a "devastating state of affairs" for the women and girls it helped.

Suffolk Rape Crisis, which supports females affected by sexual violence, announced on Wednesday it would shut and interim chief executive officer, Sarah Brennan, fears this will leave a gap in services.

She said the decision to close was made after funding from the Ministry of Justice and the Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner' s office (PCC) ended.

Tim Passmore, the PCC, said once the charity had decided to cease operations, only then would the funding stop and he would never terminate agreements mid-term.

Sarah Brennan said it was "essential" there was support for rape survivors in Suffolk

"Unfortunately the core funding that we depend on from the Ministry of Justice and the police and crime commissioner, who have both been very supportive, comes to an end this year," she explained.

"We have a contract of three years and it finishes this year, with no confirmation of funding next year at all as of yet."

The charity also had three senior vacancies that had needed filling.

"We can't recruit to these type of posts when we've got no confirmation of funding at all and our current funding is most likely to run out come October or November this year," Ms Brennan added.

"Finding and enabling other services to have safe spaces for women is a really important thing for the future of Suffolk."

The charity's website will still have helpful information for people as well as signposts for other support both locally and nationally.

'We'll find a way'

Survivors in Transition is another charity that supports those who have experience sexual abuse in childhood.

Its chief executive, Fiona Ellis, said while the closure of Suffolk Rape Crisis (SRC) was "devastating", it was "nothing new" that charities in general were facing problems.

"Charities are often in a cycle of short-term funding, not being clear about the future and it's not right," she said.

Ms Ellis stressed other charities would do everything they could to ensure the gap was filled to support rape survivors in Suffolk.

"This news shouldn't put people off from coming forward and getting support. We'll find a way."

The police and crime commissioner said his commitment to funding would not change

Det Ch Insp Matt Adams, from Suffolk Police, said there were other support services available in the county even if victims did not want to speak with police.

He added the force had specialist investigators to conduct "robust" inquiries with access to support agencies if a victim wanted to report an incident.

"Every complaint of sexual abuse is taken very seriously," he said.

"I'd just like to reassure survivors that if you report rape or sexual abuse you will be listened to and you will be treated with dignity and respect."

Mr Passmore said he was "dismayed" to learn of the charity's closure and added that his office's multi-year funding contract had been due to end in 2025.

"The reality is that once SRC had decided to cease operations at the end of July only then will the funding stop as there is no organisation remaining to receive that money," he said.

"I had hoped that with our continuing commitment to support SRC other funders would come forward but sadly others seemed unable or unwilling to help for their own reasons."

The Ministry of Justice has been approached for comment.