Victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse across England and Wales will continue to have access to free, confidential support at any time of day under a new £8.7 million government
funding package.
The Ministry of Justice has awarded the funding to Rape Crisis England & Wales to maintain and expand its national Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, which operates around the clock and provides specialist, trauma-informed assistance to people aged 16 and over.
The service is designed to support those affected by rape, sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence, regardless of when the abuse occurred or whether it has ever been reported.
Since its launch in 2022, the helpline has handled more than 200,000 calls and 75,000 online chats, highlighting the continuing demand for specialist services for victims and survivors.
The government said the latest funding forms part of its wider efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, improve access to justice and ensure that victims are not left without support after experiencing sexual violence.
Alex Davies-Jones, Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, said many survivors had described feeling isolated and uncertain about where to seek help following rape or sexual assault.
She said the support line would remain available to anyone affected, offering a service where survivors could be heard, believed and given answers to their questions.
Ciara Bergman, chief executive of Rape Crisis England & Wales, said the organisation was pleased to continue running the national service and stressed that support would remain available regardless of a survivor's circumstances or how long ago the abuse took place.
The new three-year grant, which begins on 1 October 2026 and runs until 30 September 2029, will also allow Rape Crisis to develop the service further.
Among the planned improvements is the introduction of British Sign Language interpretation, alongside additional provision aimed at meeting the needs of survivors who require more tailored forms of assistance.
Specialist advisers can also help callers identify longer-term support in their area. Survivors do not have to have reported an offence to the police, or told anyone else about what happened, before contacting the service.
The funding announcement comes alongside wider government measures aimed at strengthening protection for victims and dealing more firmly with serious sexual offences.
Ministers have decided that rape, certain child sexual offences and some grooming offences will be excluded from planned changes to prison sentencing rules. The government says the move will ensure that offenders convicted of particularly serious crimes remain subject to existing protections designed to safeguard the public.
Rape and specified child sexual offences will be added to a list of exclusions that already covers around 18,000 offenders, including people assessed by courts as presenting the highest level of danger and those serving life sentences.
The government has also pledged £550 million over the next three years for specialist services supporting victims and witnesses as they navigate the criminal justice system. The investment is intended to fund services including counselling, practical assistance and support for people attending court.
The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line is available free of charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year. It is open to anyone aged 16 or over in England and Wales who has been affected by sexual violence at any point in their life.
The service can be reached on 0808 500 2222. Photo by morebyless, Wikimedia commons.
