Sexual abuse charity recognised for male victims support

SV2, which supports anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, has gained official recognition for its work to support male victims and survivors.

The charity, which has bases in Derby, Ripley and Buxton, has gained independent accreditation for the support it provides to male survivors across Derbyshire and hopes that more will now feel more confident to reach out for help and support.

SV2 (originally known as Derbyshire Rape Crisis) supports victims and survivors of sexual abuse and their families to inform, support, protect and empower them.

It also works to prevent and raise awareness of rape and sexual abuse and their effects through training and education programmes across the county.

Between March 2022 and March 2023, the charity supported 955 children, young people and adults through a range of services including ISVA support through the criminal justice system, counselling and therapy.

Around 10% of referrals were male – compared with the national average of 20%; and 13% of people supported through the criminal justice system by SV2 last year were male.

The quality and consistency of SV2’s work was assessed to meet the nationally-recognised Male Quality Standards.

These have been developed by sexual violence training and development organisation, LimeCulture, on behalf of the national Male Survivors Partnership in recognition that specific support services are needed for male victims of sexual abuse and sexual violence.

Under a separate evaluation, SV2 has also gained accreditation for the training it provides on this and the wider issue of sexual abuse and sexual violence for all genders, which is designed for fellow professionals and part of their on-going training and development.

Rachel Morris, chief executive of SV2, said: “We already support all genders of any age regardless of when their experience of sexual abuse occurred and whether they have reported the crime to police or not.

“It is clear that there are physical and psychological impacts of sexual abuse and sexual violence for both genders.

“However, research indicates that the impact on males can be exacerbated due to societal expectations of masculinity and male behaviour.

“This means that many men do not report or seek help for sexual abuse and sexual violence – whether recent or historic.

“Having gained this official recognition for the quality of our work, I hope that it will encourage more male victims and survivors of sexual abuse – whenever that abuse took place – to contact us and access the support and therapeutic services that they need to move forward with their lives.”