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Status
Received: on time
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Income
£2.6M
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Spending
£2.6M
- Charity no. 103651
- Company no. 20562
- Date registered. 07/07/2015
Public benefits
The benefit that flows from the organisations purpose to reduce the distress, poverty and disadvantageous effects on individuals affected by crime include: - victims feeling supported and helped to cope with the impact of crime - victims and witnesses can more effectively engage in the Criminal Justice System The benefits which flow from the
purpose to advance public education and awareness of issues relating to victims and witnesses include: - organisations working with victims and witnesses have increased understanding of the impact on crime on individuals and are better equipped to respond to their needs. These benefits are evidenced through on-going evaluation of feedback from service users and quarterly provision of progress against targets which are agreed with our funder.
What your organisation does
We help and support victims and witnesses of crime in a number of ways. Our community service starts with practical and emotional support for the victim shortly after the crime has occurred. We can assist with compensation claims, and help with appeals. We help prepare people for the experience of going to court, and support witnesses while
they are in court. We can also help victims complete Victim Personal Statements after a conviction. We advocate for vulnerable victims and victims of hate crime. We aim to represent the victim’s experience, and lobby government and the Criminal Justice System for effective change. In the last year we have received funding to pilot the role of Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVA). These support workers provide one to one support for victims of sexual violence throughout the criminal justice process. The outcome of our work is that victims and witnesses of crime in Northern Ireland will feel better informed about their rights, and more aware of the choices available to them, have more confidence in the Criminal Justice System, and feel that their voice is being heard and their story believed. Support offered by Victim Support NI staff and volunteers will support people to feel less anxious and safer in court. An important aspect of the organisation’s work is with decision makers to ensure they hear victims’ voices, are better informed and take account of the needs of victims and witnesses when effecting policy change. We also partner successfully with other agencies to ensure that we have the best available advocacy, specialist advice, and support services for our clients. Our staff and volunteers are experts in their fields and we work hard to make sure accredited training is made available to those who wish to further their skills
The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of health or the saving of lives
Who the charity helps
- General public
- Victim support
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Counselling/support
- Criminal justice
- Education/training