The Home Secretary and Mayor of West Yorkshire joined staff and volunteers from Victim Support West Yorkshire, to celebrate the organisation’s 50th anniversary.

The charity has marked the milestone with a number of nationwide events, including at Junction 32 Shopping Outlet on Friday (1st November) offering crafts, entertainment and information stalls.

Both Mayor Tracy Brabin and Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary and MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, met with the charity’s staff and volunteers to hear about the services on offer and support provided to local victims of crime.

Founded in Bristol in 1974 by a group of volunteers, Victim Support, known then as the Bristol Victim Support Scheme, was the country’s first charity for victims of crime.

Today, the charity helps around 140,000 people every year, offering support across a vast range of crime types including domestic abuse, sexual violence, fraud and hate crime as well as delivering support to anyone bereaved by murder or manslaughter through its flagship National Homicide Service.

MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, added:

“Thank you to all those who volunteered and worked for Victim Support as we reach their 50th anniversary.

“They do incredible work to help people in tough times when they’ve been hit by crime, and they provide vital support for victims of serious crimes such as domestic and sexual abuse.

“The Government has set a mission nationally to halve serious violence in a decade. And it’s great to see the work Mayor Tracy Brabin is doing locally with Victim Support to help communities and keep people safe.”

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said:

“I want victims of crime to know they are not alone and can ask for help if they need it.

“It’s vital everyone knows these services are available to help people cope and recover, but also to know someone has their back during what can be an incredibly stressful and often traumatic time.

“That’s why I was so pleased to have the opportunity to thank the charity’s staff and volunteers in person for all the amazing support they give to victims of crime.”

Victim Support West Yorkshire provides an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) service and an Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) service as well as delivering multi-crime services for all victims of crime.

Staff and volunteers are highly trained to provide trauma informed support to victims of all ages and crime types.

Lesley McLean, Victim Support Area Manager for West Yorkshire said:

“It was an honour to welcome the Home Secretary and the Mayor of West Yorkshire, who generously funds our vital services, to our anniversary celebrations. Both spent time speaking to our staff and volunteers and hearing more about the specialist support on offer for victims of crime in West Yorkshire.

“The event also provided the opportunity to speak to members of the public about local victims’ services – we’d like to say a huge thank you to our partner charities and statutory agencies for joining us and to Junction 23 for hosting.

“It is truly inspiring to reflect on the many thousands of victims we have helped throughout the years. We look forward to continuing this legacy and providing vital, life changing support to anyone who has been the victim of crime in this county.”

To find out more about Victim Support services available in West Yorkshire, visit https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/west-yorkshire/