GRANTS of nearly £250,000 have been awarded to organisations helping victims of sexual or violent crime in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Those benefitting include Southern Domestic Abuse Service, Winchester Area Community Action and the Hampton Trust (Isle of Wight).

The money has been made available by Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Simon Hayes.

Mr Hayes said: “Placing victims and witnesses at the heart of policing and the wider criminal justice system is one of the key priorities in my Police and Crime Plan.

“My grant awards will invest in both new and existing schemes which help victims of violent or sexual crime.

“ I am proud to support a range of projects including specialist Independent Domestic Violence Advocates in Southampton and Portsmouth, a dedicated hub addressing child sexual exploitation and support and advocacy services for victims of sexual crimes throughout Hampshire.”

Trevor Lewis, Chair of Winchester Area Community Action, said: “We are delighted to receive funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner to expand our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) capacity across Hampshire.

“ISVA support is a lifeline for victims of sexual violence, providing guidance and support in dealing with immediate issues, signposting to counselling services where appropriate and providing additional support to those victims who make the difficult decision to pursue their case through the Criminal Justice System.

“ The demand for our services has increased significantly in the last year and the funding from the PCC will enable us to reduce waiting times and help more people in need of urgent support.”