Male rape charity given thousands to tackle ‘taboo’ issue
A London charity, which supports male victims of rape, has been given £78,000 to try and tackle the stigma around the issue.
Survivors UK said the money provided by the Mayor’s office would allow them to reach out to more victims and make them aware there is a “safe space where they can get help”.
London Assembly member, Kemi Badenoch, who helped to lobby for the funds, said the “taboo” nature of male rape needed to be tackled.
A report produced by Ms Badenoch estimated that around 92,000 rapes and sex attacks were not reported to the police between 2010 and 2014.
Ms Badenoch said: “Male rape is a rarely mentioned taboo.
“No victim of rape or sexual assault should feel they have nowhere to turn and be made to suffer in silence.”
“We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg,” said chief executive of Survivors UK, Keith Best.
“What we are seeing is that in many institutions, like schools, prisons and care homes, sex abuse is a potential problem.”
Mr Best said the charity had received £52,666 since 2012, but the funding was coming to an end in April.
He now hoped the new funding could be used to tackle the issue in prisons.
Paul Scates, who was abused as a child, said the charity gave him “validation” and he felt it was “like a fourth emergency service”.
Mr Scates was abused between the age of eight and 16, by a man that was introduced to his family through another relative.
He said he was “lucky” to get support and therapy from the NHS and found Survivors UK around three years ago.
“Wounds heal but scars remain forever. When you are abused it is like a life sentence and you live with it but with support you go from being a victim to a survivor,” added Mr Scates.
