This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uks-biggest-male-rape-charity-survivors-uk-has-state-funding-slashed-to-zero-despite-120-rise-in-men-reporting-sexual-violence-and-seeking-help-10274441.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UK's biggest male rape charity Survivors UK has state funding slashed to zero despite 120% rise in men reporting sexual violence and seeking help UK's biggest male rape charity Survivors UK has state funding slashed to zero despite 120% rise in men reporting sexual violence and seeking help
(35 minutes later)
The UK’s biggest male rape and sexual abuse charity has had its state funding for vital counselling services slashed to zero, despite a 120 per cent increase in men reporting instances of sexual violence in London and seeking help in the past year alone.The UK’s biggest male rape and sexual abuse charity has had its state funding for vital counselling services slashed to zero, despite a 120 per cent increase in men reporting instances of sexual violence in London and seeking help in the past year alone.
Survivors UK, which has received £70,000 a year from the Ministry of Justice for the past 10 years to fund its counselling services, is now being placed under significant pressure at a time when tackling rape, sexual violence and child sexual abuse has become a key focus for the police and the government following the revelations of Jimmy Savile’s years of abuse.Survivors UK, which has received £70,000 a year from the Ministry of Justice for the past 10 years to fund its counselling services, is now being placed under significant pressure at a time when tackling rape, sexual violence and child sexual abuse has become a key focus for the police and the government following the revelations of Jimmy Savile’s years of abuse.
The Met Police’s investigation into the historic VIP paedophile ring and its decision to investigate the alleged murders of three boys in the late 1970s - based on the evidence put forward by a male survivor of the sexual abuse - has also brought a new focus onto the need for dedicated male rape services, as have the reports of Lord Janner's alleged abuse of boys dating back to the 1960s. The Met Police’s decision to investigate the alleged murders of three boys in the late 1970s by members of a Wesminster VIP paedophile ring - based in part on the evidence put forward by a male survivor of the sexual abuse - has also brought a new focus onto the need for dedicated male rape services, as have the reports of Lord Janner's alleged abuse of boys dating back to the 1960s.
  
But since Survivors UK’s funding for counselling was switched from being dispensed by the Ministry of Justice’s victims’ fund to being distributed by the Mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime last year, the charity has not had its funding renewed. It was given £33,666 for a six month period and as of 31 March this year the funding has stopped. It has since launched a petition on Change.org to re-instate its funding. But since Survivors UK’s funding for counselling was switched from being dispensed by the Ministry of Justice’s victims’ fund to being distributed by the Mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime last year, the charity has not had its funding renewed. It was given £33,666 for a six month period by the Mayor's office, and as of 31 March this year the funding has stopped. It has since launched a petition on Change.org to re-instate its funding.
A total of 307 men in London reported being raped to the Met police in 2014, an increase of 120 per cent since 2012, and 518 men reported experiencing a serious sexual assault, up 80 per cent over the same time period.A total of 307 men in London reported being raped to the Met police in 2014, an increase of 120 per cent since 2012, and 518 men reported experiencing a serious sexual assault, up 80 per cent over the same time period.
Survivors UK’s Michael May told The Independent that the charity has had 17 new referrals for counselling in the last six weeks alone, while a new advertising campaign launching this week, created pro-bono by advertising agency Johnny Fearless, will only bring more awareness and referrals.Survivors UK’s Michael May told The Independent that the charity has had 17 new referrals for counselling in the last six weeks alone, while a new advertising campaign launching this week, created pro-bono by advertising agency Johnny Fearless, will only bring more awareness and referrals.
The charity is London based but male survivors travel from all over the UK to receive the specialist counselling from its therapists, May said.The charity is London based but male survivors travel from all over the UK to receive the specialist counselling from its therapists, May said.
“There is a real appetite among male survivors to come to an organisation that only deals with men because they feel there is an understanding and that they will receive services tailored to them. It is the same reason there are women only services for this,” he said.“There is a real appetite among male survivors to come to an organisation that only deals with men because they feel there is an understanding and that they will receive services tailored to them. It is the same reason there are women only services for this,” he said.
Survivors UK also provides an online and text-based helpline service for male victims of sexual abuse.Survivors UK also provides an online and text-based helpline service for male victims of sexual abuse.
The Mayor of London’s office for policing and crime fund has yet to respond to a request for comment.The Mayor of London’s office for policing and crime fund has yet to respond to a request for comment.