NEARLY £50,000 has been donated to support victims of sexual abuse in Somerset.

The National Lottery has joined forces with Lloyds Bank Foundation to provide a cash boost of £49,520 for Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS).

The money has come as part of the Big Lottery Fund and will support a two-year pilot project working with people who have experienced sexual abuse.

The project will provide therapy and support to help them move on with their lives and achieve a sense of justice after their experiences.

Drawing on the latest research from the University of Bristol’s Centre for Gender and Violence, the Justice Transition Service will provide support for women recovering from sexual violence and abuse to rebuild their lives.

Rowan Miller, chief executive of SARSAS, said: “Working in partnership with Bristol University and alongside survivors has led to the development of this exciting new service.

“We know that a sense of justice is an important part of survivors being able to live with or move on from their experiences.

“This vital funding from the Lloyds Bank Foundation and the Big Lottery allows us, for the first time, to develop a new approach in our work exploring different routes with survivors to improve their wellbeing and rebuild their lives.”

This grant represents a continued investment in SARSAS by the Lloyds Bank Foundation which earlier this year awarded them a £100,000 grant as part of the transform grants programme.

Paul Streets, chief executive of Lloyds Bank Foundation, said: “With poverty and disadvantage high and rising, local charities like SARSAS are on the front line in their communities offering help to people who need it most.

“We’re proud to have partnered with Big Lottery Fund to jointly fund SARSAS, whose work with victims of sexual and domestic abuse is life-changing.”