Boris visits RASASC before being elected pic: RASASC

London’s longest running Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre in Croydon is set to receive £10,000 from the London Mayor. The grant will help more individuals seeking support after sexual abuse.

At the end of 2010 RASASC were forced to close their waiting list due to an overwhelming number of victims seeking help. The new grant, announced by Boris Johnson, will enable the organisation to expand their support services in time for an expected surge in sexual violence over the festive season.

Chief Executive of RASASC, Yvonne Traynor, told Eastlondonlines: “At the start of every New Year we always experience an increase in people coming in as more people are out over the festive period.

“All our money goes towards the support we provide to clients. We will use the grant on our counseling services so that more people can be seen while maintaining the quality of help given.”

RASASC has been running for 26 years and provides support to women over the age of 14 who have experienced any form of sexual violence. In the past three years the centre has seen a rise in the number of women coming for help and now sees on average 4,000 individuals each year. They provide one-on-one therapy sessions led by trained councilors for up to 12 months, as well as group therapy and trauma sessions for rape victims.

Boris Johnson visited RASASC before he was elected Mayor. During his visit a member of the organisation’s advisory group, which is made up of ex-clients, told him that support for sexual violence victims should become a government priority. Since becoming Mayor, Boris has funded the development of three more rape crisis centres in London.

Yvonne Traynor said: “We hope violence against women will become a greater government priority. I think the Mayor speaking to our members and seeing what we do had a big effect on him and we are very grateful for his support.”