The Victims Fund comprises three parts: £1.25 million for organisations supporting victims of sexual violence; £0.25 million for organisations supporting the bereaved relatives of homicide victims; and £0.25 million for organisations supporting victims of hate crime.
In financial year 2009-10 the homicide and hate crime sections were supplemented from within the Home Office budget by £73,000 and £59,500 following negotiations with successful applicants.
In 2009-10 a total of £1,892,254.69 was distributed from the Victims Fund. Of this, £1,249,664 was distributed to organisations supporting victims of sexual violence; £333,101 to organisations supporting the bereaved relatives of homicide victims; and £309,489.69 to organisations supporting victims of hate crime.
The following organisations received money from the homicide section of the Victims Fund:
£ Winston’s Wish 46,835 Advocacy after fatal domestic abuse 34,616 Support against Murder and manslaughter 27,850 National Victims Association 73,800 MAMAA 75,000 Damilola Taylor Trust 75,000
The following organisations received money from the hate crime section of the Victims Fund:
£ Age Concern Camden 23,110 Community Security Trust 54,354 GIRES 10,110 North Herts People First 17,788 Redbridge Equalities Council 24,038.69 Royal Mencap Kirklees 4,000 Stonewall 25,000 Stop Hate UK 71,600 Torfaen People First 29,064 Voice UK 50,425
All sections of the homicide fund will be administered from the Office of Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) in 2010-11. The bidding round for distribution of the fund opened on 29 January. The homicide and hate crime sections will be distributed following assessment of bids by OCJR and the Home Office respectively. The sexual violence section will be distributed on behalf of OCJR by an expert intermediary organisation, to be chosen from within the sexual violence sector.
Since 1999, core funding has been provided to SAMM (Support After Murder and Manslaughter) who operate a national helpline for relatives bereaved by murder and manslaughter.
In addition, my Department provides funding to Victim Support. In each of the last ten years their annual grant supports their telephone helpline which offers emotional support and, practical advice to victims of crime including relatives bereaved by homicide.
On 26 October 2009 the Ministry of Justice launched an advice helpline to provide relatives bereaved by homicide legal advice on personal and social issues.
Since 2004-05 the Victims Fund has provided grant funding to a number of specialist organisations working to assist relatives bereaved by murder and manslaughter. This funding has supported telephone advice offered by the organisations Winston’s Wish, Advocacy after Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA), and Mothers Against Murder and Aggression (MAMAA).