Services funding

In August 2022, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) secured over £1.4million over a three-year period from the Ministry of Justice to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

• The Green House and Somerset Phoenix Project will receive £64,150.40 to jointly deliver psychoeducational workshop to families and young people as well as increase the team’s capacity
• Womankind will receive £22.955 to provide additional sexual violence trauma counselling sessions specifically for minority ethnic women
• SARSAS will receive £42,500 to provide 460 sessions of trauma-informed sexual violence counselling per year to meet increased demand
• Mankind Initiative will receive £8,000 to continue to deliver their nine-week virtual group Pattern Changing Recovery Programme for male victims and survivors of domestic abuse
• Southmead Project will receive £28,931.30 to provided additional counselling support for those with lived experiences of sexual violence and domestic abuse
• Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse will receive £15,750 to provide specialist practical and emotional support to families bereaved by suicide or unexplained deaths following domestic abuse
• Southside Family Project will receive £21,645 to provide targeted counselling for those who receive Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) support
• Opoka will receive £18,500 to provide specialist advocacy and bilingual support to Polish victims and families of domestic abuse including helping to navigate them through the Criminal Justice System, access legal aid and provide counselling
• VOICES will receive £20,000 to fund a gateway service that allows recovery support work to take place
• Kinergy will receive £36,000 to provide additional counselling for victims of sexual violence
• Young Victims Service (YVS) will receive £45,000 to increase their ability to focus on online and peer-on-peer sexual offences, helping YVS respond to the increasing needs of children affected by online harms, child sexual abuse, harassment and sexual bullying
• Victim Support will receive £19,624.50 to support those affected by child to parent abuse, helping parents to increase their support network, diminish parental shame and learn new parenting strategies including conflict resolution
• Next Link will receive £25,811.20 to provide peer support facilitators to support victims of domestic abuse including a dedicated Black and minoritised victim group, young victim group and LGBTQ+ victim group within the programme
• Safe Link will receive £25,811.20 to also provide peer support facilitators to support victims of sexual violence including a dedicated Black and minoritised victim group, young victim group and LGBTQ+ victim group within the programme
• The Reclaim Project will receive £38,000 to offer counselling to adults and young adults who have lived experiences of domestic abuse
• Trauma Breakthrough will receive £20,000 towards their long-term, specialist trauma focused therapy for survivors who are psychologically ready to work on their trauma-related mental health problems
• Nelson Trust will receive £19,000 to engage with women in the Criminal Justice System who have complex needs and have lived experiences of domestic and sexual violence
• IP1625 will receive £19,000 to provide a wellbeing coach that offers a range of support for young people who have or who are experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence

Unsuccessful bidders included:

• Innovating Minds CIC
• Hourglass (Safer Ageing)
• You My Sister
• VOCAS
• Parental Education Growth Support (PEGS)
• Crimestoppers in the West Country

On 1 April 2019, new contracts for a range of services commissioned by the OPCC began:

• Lighthouse Integrated Victim and Witness Care (Avon and Somerset Police): A practical and emotional support service for witnesses including guidance through the criminal justice system offered by specially trained staff.
• Victim Support: A practical and emotional support service for adult victims of any crime or ASB. Contract value: £327,670 p.a 4+1+1-year contract.
• VOCAS Swan Advocacy: An enhanced adult support service for victims of any crime or ASB/Victims of Crime Advocacy Service (VOCAS). Contract value: £254,932 p.a 4+1+1 year contract.
• Young Victims’ Service: A children and young adult’s support service for victims of any crime or ASB up to the age of 18 (or 25 where there are additional needs). Contract value: £165,000 p.a 4+1+1 year contract.
• Safe Link: An Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service. Contract value: £389,159 p.a 4+1+1 year contract.
• Resolve West: A Restorative Justice (RJ) service for victims of any crime or ASB. Contract value: £179,000 p.a 4+1+1 year contract.

There are other victim services commissioned by the OPCC:

• The Bridge, United Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust: Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). Contract value: Commissioned by NHS England, OPCC co-commissioner contribution £178,481 (one year).
• Modern Slavery support service grant: Unseen UK. Contract value: £38,595 (one year).
• Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) grant: Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS). Contract value: £19,009 (one year).
• Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) grant: The Green House. Contact value: £48,213 (one year).
• Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) grant: Southmead Project. Contract value: £65,026 (one year).
• Special support service for victims of CSE 2018-2019: Barnardo’s. Contract value: The OPCC contributes £222,883.50 per year.
• Working together to improve lives and build resilience for the most vulnerable victims for sexual assault with additional needs: Home Office VAWG Transformation Fund Project. Contract value: £123,465 over three years.
• Avon and Somerset Sexual Violence Therapy Services: Sexual Violence Consortium of SARSAS, The Green House and Womankind. Contract value: The service is co-funded by the area’s three Clinical Commissioning groups (CCG), the OPCC and NHS England with Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG acting as lead commissioner. The OPCC contributes £50,000 per year.

The service works with offenders who have mental health problems, learning disabilities or substance misuse issues. From the point of arrest, custody, to court and in the community.

• AWP (NHS England is the lead commissioner): Advice and Support at Custody and Court Service, which provides assessment and referral for vulnerable individuals throughout the criminal justice system from police custody, voluntary attendees and courts. The service works with individuals who are vulnerable due to their mental health, learning disability or substance misuse issues and provides referrals onto relevant support agencies as well as providing expert input into court reports. The service operates across Avon and Somerset  and includes delivery of the Drug Education Programme across the area. Contract value: The PCC contributes £553,421

• Somerset Youth Offending Service: The service supports and safeguards the welfare and rights of vulnerable adults that are detained or being interviewed by the police in Somerset. Contract value: The PCC contributes £13,462 (Avon and Somerset Police also fund this service)
• Brandon Trust: The service supports and safeguards the welfare and rights of vulnerable adults that are detained or being interviewed by the police in and around Bristol. Contract value: The PCC contributes £35,000 (Avon and Somerset Police and South Gloucestershire Council also contribute to funding)

The service employs mental health professionals to work in the police control room. These professionals have access to the relevant health systems and offer advice and support to police officers and other emergency service staff.

The OPCC and the Local Health Commissioning groups in Avon and Somerset and Avon Fire and Rescue Service jointly fund the service.

AWP is a significant provider of specialist mental health services.

Contract value 2018/2021: £122,604 per year (Local Health Commissioning groups and Avon Fire and rescue Service also contribute to this service)