We’re thrilled to announce that Safety Net has been awarded £70,000 in funding from Global’s Make Some Noise campaign. This generous grant is spread over two years and will help us expand our support for people affected by domestic and sexual abuse in Cumbria’s rurally isolated communities. This includes towns like Keswick, Penrith, Cockermouth, and Millom, alongside smaller villages and hamlets.

Reaching under-represented communities

Global’s Make Some Noise funding will allow us to reach underrepresented groups, particularly older women, who make up 24.3% of the local population but only 3% of our clients. Sexual violence against older women often remains hidden, as found in research by Dr Hannah Bows at Durham University. To address this, we plan to deliver workshops about older people and sexual violence to professionals, care homes and community organisations, like the Women’s Institute, farming unions, faith groups and Age Concern.

Furthermore, research from the 2019 National Rural Crime Network report found that survivors of domestic abuse in rural areas are half as likely to report abuse and tend to endure it for 25% longer than those in urban settings. Many face barriers such as low income, lack of transport, and stigma in close-knit communities, which can make accessing support incredibly difficult. This has contributed to a growing waiting list of 25 individuals already waiting for support.

How this funding will help Safety Net

Through this grant we will be able to:

• Fund a trauma-informed practitioner (TIP) working three days a week and two therapists working one day each in Penrith and West Cumbria.
• Run peer group sessions for teenagers in rural schools, focusing on online exploitation, abuse, and sextortion.
• Work with organisations like Age UK Carlisle/Eden and primary care providers to improve access to support for older women.
• Use local community spaces, including schools, youth clubs, and children’s centres, to ensure help is available close to home.

We are incredibly grateful to Global’s Make Some Noise campaign for recognising the importance of our trauma-informed work. We’re excited to make a real difference for those struggling to access support in rural Cumbria.