Cleveland PCC Matt Storey wins NHS funding for survivors

The £91,167.34 grant from NHS England will go to Teesside-based charity ARCH, which provides specialist support to people affected by sexual violence and abuse.

The funding, secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Cleveland, will be used to help deliver additional counselling sessions over the next 15 months.

The aim is to help reduce waiting times for survivors and ensure they receive timely support.

Mr Storey said: “Increasing the capacity of sexual abuse and violence counselling supports two of the priorities in my Police and Crime Plan 2024-29.

“Those priorities are Improving safety for women and girls and ensuring the right support is available for victims and vulnerable people.

“I want to see an end to violence against women and girls in our society – but while it does exist, it’s doubly important to focus on the victims and make sure they get the right support at the right time to recover as successfully as possible.”

ARCH Teesside has seen demand for its services rise year-on-year, reflecting a wider trend affecting specialist support organisations.

Timely access to counselling and support is critical to helping survivors recover, putting even more pressure on services to deliver.

Lisa Russell, clinical lead at ARCH Teesside, said: “This past year has tested our services in ways we could never have imagined.

“That is why receiving funding from NHSE for our counselling work at ARCH Teesside means so much.

“This support doesn’t just keep our doors open, it gives us the stability to reach even more survivors across Teesside, offering them the safety, compassion and understanding they desperately need and truly deserve.”

She added: “Sexual violence continues to destroy lives and our communities; it also impacts our children and young people.

“This is something as a society we cannot accept. This funding will strengthen our ability to stand alongside survivors, helping them to feel safe, supported and begin their healing journey.”

Last year, Mr Storey awarded ARCH a one-off grant of £15,000 to fund a support navigator.

The navigator helps bridge the critical gap between being referred to Arch and getting specialist support.

Since 2025, the OPCC has been able to apply for non-recurrent funding from NHS England. NHSE funding supports specialist services to deliver support, which aligns with its Sexual Assault and Abuse Strategy.