With the Government announcing increases to National Insurance costs for employers from this April, Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has recognised the difficult position this has created for vital victim support organisations and is stepping in to help service providers in Sussex.
In a ground-breaking move and, as part of her strategy to support victims of crime, PCC Bourne will provide £100,000 for organisations who have already been awarded funding from her office for the 2025/26 financial year.
This contribution will cover the national insurance increase in full for most of these organisations. The providers who will receive the financial support are organisations with existing grants and members of PCC Bourne’s Safe Space Funding Network.
PCC Bourne made the announcement at the Sussex Domestic Abuse Conference, which took place on 21 January at the Amex Stadium in Brighton. The conference (jointly funded by PCC Bourne, Victim Support and West Sussex County Council) brought together over 300 professionals and organisations who lead on programmes supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Attendees were invited to share good practice, ask questions and challenge gaps in provision - all with one goal of ending domestic abuse by improving support for victims and encouraging early intervention for perpetrators.
Speaking about her decision to bridge the funding gap, PCC Katy Bourne said: “I’m determined that our local victims’ services should not be forced to cut essential jobs as a consequence of the hike in National Insurance contributions. Covering their National Insurance increase will relieve some financial pressure faced by these organisations who are providing vital help to victims and survivors in Sussex.
“The unforeseen rise in National Insurance, as well as ongoing economic challenges, means that organisations, especially our smaller local charities, have been severely impacted and are having to make difficult decisions.
"Victims and survivors of crime should not bear the brunt of this government’s short-sighted decisions but should be supported to cope and recover from crime.
“We want our local services to not simply survive but thrive. This means being able to invest in their staff, volunteers and training whilst maintaining existing services and local capabilities.”
Antonia Madden, Head of Operations Survivors’ Network said: The charity sector is heading into an extremely challenging period of financial uncertainty, and we really appreciate the support and commitment from Sussex PCC to alleviate the financial pressure from National Insurance contributions. It’s reassuring to know that Sussex PCC are prioritising the needs of those most vulnerable, and we can move forward with greater confidence in our ability to support those who rely on our vital services.
Claudia Ortiz, Director of Veritas Justice said: "We are deeply appreciative of Katy’s recent funding announcement, committing to covering a significant portion of the national insurance increase for this year. This decision comes at a crucial time when charities like ours face growing financial pressures. By alleviating this additional cost, it not only supports the sustainability of our services but also bolsters staff retention, ensuring we can continue delivering vital support to those in need. Katy’s commitment demonstrates a clear understanding of the challenges charities face and is a much-needed step towards enabling us to focus on our core mission.”
Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass, the safer ageing charity said: “We are incredibly appreciative that Sussex PCC is leading the way in bridging the funding gap with the national insurance increases. Not only does this give charities like Hourglass real encouragement during such pressing financial times, but it also reinforces the mutuality of the relationship. This tells us that the Commissioner really wants to help victim-survivors and is prepared to make funding available to support our stretched services. This means Hourglass can go on supporting older victim-survivors into 2025/26 and we can think positively about the future.”
Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at Victim Support said: “Myself and all of my colleagues at Victim Support Sussex are extremely grateful for this generous boost in funding, which will enable us to keep delivering the best possible support for victims. Our services in Sussex offer help to anyone who has experienced crime, including specialist support for victims of domestic abuse, fraud, hate crime and young witnesses. Access to dedicated support is a lifeline to many thousands, helping them to cope, recover and rebuild their lives. Victims’ services face huge funding challenges, brought by the rise to employers’ National Insurance contributions. Thanks to this uplift, our vital services in Sussex will continue to thrive.”
