Over 50 young people from throughout the county are enjoying brighter futures thanks to a £20,000 grant to CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) from the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit.
The Violence and Vulnerability Unit Community Grant Scheme (VVUCGS) is available annually for local groups to develop bespoke support for young people. Applications for activities in 2025/26 are now open, entries close on Monday 23 September 2024.
The funding to CARA in 2023/24 helped to increase counselling and play therapy for children and young people who have been victims of sexual abuse. CARA’S Young Person’s Team was boosted resulting in reduced waiting times. These went down from eight months in some areas to an average of 3.5 months and as low as one-two months in some areas.
Helen Parr, Chief Executive Officer, CARA, said: “The Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit grant was a major factor in helping young people envision a better life for themselves. Thanks to the VVU grant, we were able to provide more counselling to victims of sexual violence and to help support children and their families to process and understand what has happened. We see dramatic differences in the young people, they become more confident, report feeling more able to take back power and control and let go of feelings of shame and self-blame – recognising that what happened to them wasn’t their fault.”
CARA was just one of 17 community groups who in 2023/24 helped support more than 7000 young people across the county with a wide range of interactive projects. In a recent survey that asked about the impact of the project, 82 per cent of participants agreed the project they attended has helped them to make positive choices around keeping safe and had a positive impact on their mental health.¹
Today, Roger Hirst, Chair of the Violence and Vulnerability Partnership and Police Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex thanked CARA for supporting young people throughout the county
Mr Hirst said: “We must never underestimate the fantastic work being delivered by local organisations in communities right across the county. The projects, embedded in their local area, understand the needs of the young people they are working with, and can provide the support needed to address risk factors such as violence, lack of engagement in education, isolation and poor mental health. So many young people have been helped thanks to the 23/24 VVUCGS and I encourage organisations to apply for next year’s grant and continue this great work.”
CARA consistently receives positive feedback on the impact of the service, with young people reporting better health and wellbeing and feeling more able to take back power and control, to assert themselves and access further support, if needed.
