Dear Friends and Supporters,

At RASA Merseyside, our mission has always been to provide life-changing support to survivors of sexual violence. For years, we have been a safe haven for those in need, offering free, expert care to help survivors rebuild their lives. But right now, we face a critical moment, and we need your help more than ever.

Despite the vital work we do, we are now being forced to make devastating cuts to our services. The combination of rising national insurance costs, the soaring cost of living, and, crucially, the government's continued failure to adequately fund services for survivors is putting our ability to help at serious risk.

In recent years, government funding for support services for survivors of sexual violence has failed to keep up with the reality of what money is needed—a failure that directly impacts the most vulnerable members of our society.

As the cost of living rises, these cuts have left us with no choice but to reduce our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service and cut back on the vital support we offer to children and young people affected by sexual violence.

These services are desperately needed, and yet, we are being forced to make impossible decisions that jeopardise the wellbeing of survivors who rely on us for help.

The government's neglect of this issue is both shocking and harmful. Survivors of sexual violence are some of the most vulnerable people in our society. They deserve immediate, accessible, and expert support. But instead, they are left to face the consequences of funding cuts and standstills that leave them without the services they urgently need. This is an unacceptable failure that cannot continue.

We are asking for your support today to ensure that these essential services remain available.

Waiting times for counselling will increase greatly. Children may need to wait far longer for help than they should ever need to - at a time when client numbers are increasing month on month.

Victims and survivors deserve to have the excellence put back into the service and we need your help to achieve that.

With your help, we can:

• Ensure survivors continue to receive expert support through our ISVA service, without which many will be left to navigate the complex legal and emotional aftermath of sexual violence alone.

• Provide much-needed emotional and practical assistance to children and young people, empowering them to heal and reclaim their futures.

• Keep our doors open to those who need us most during this incredibly challenging time.

Here’s how you can help:

• Donate: Every penny you give goes directly to sustaining our services. Your support will have an immediate impact on survivors' lives.

• Fundraise: Organise a fundraising event or participate in one of our campaigns. Your efforts will help raise the vital funds we need to continue.

• Spread the Word: Share this appeal with your friends, family, and colleagues. Awareness is critical to ensuring we can continue to support survivors.

We are deeply frustrated and angered by the government’s failure to take real action to protect survivors of sexual violence. Until they step up, we are relying on our community to ensure that RASA Merseyside can continue to offer life-changing support to those who need it most.

We cannot do this alone, but together, we can make sure that survivors are not forgotten, and that they continue to receive the care, compassion, and respect they deserve.

Thank you for your unwavering support.

With heartfelt thanks,