The unique collaboration brings together agencies from across the sector to pool their expertise and to work in partnership to represent the interests of bereaved victims.
In the first instance, the Alliance involves organisations working with victims of murder, manslaughter and culpable road death, but over time the Alliance expects to grow to involve a much wider group of victims’ services.
Javed Khan, chief executive of Victim Support, said: “The new Alliance represents a real opportunity for agencies to come together and work collectively to ensure that the voice of victims is heard at the highest level. In these challenging years ahead.”
Khan added: “The needs and demands of victims for high quality support wherever and whenever they need it will only be met if we find new ways of working together and investing in our inter-dependency.”
Justice minister Crispin Blunt commented: “We welcome the creation of the Victims Services’ Alliance and the benefit that these organisations working together will bring for victims. We look forward to working closely with the Alliance.”
Baroness Newlove, who’s supporting the Alliance, added: “Everyone in the sector can join together to make this a powerful force for good, sharing Best Practice, avoiding duplication and acting as a central voice to improve services for victims and their families.”
The Alliance, whose secretariat is provided by Victim Support, has a membership that is open to all organisations who work with people and families bereaved by murder, manslaughter and culpable road death and who agree with the objectives of the Alliance.
Members of the Alliance’s Interim Steering Group are:
- Victim Support
- KnifeCrimes.Org and Victims’ Advocates
- The Lucie Blackman Trust – Missing Abroad
- Assist Trauma Care
- Cruse Bereavement Care
- Child Bereavement Charity
- Escaping Victimhood
- RoadPeace
- SAMM National
- Winston’s Wish
Organisations and charities involved at present
Organisations and charities that have joined the Alliance so far (including the Steering Group) are as follows:
- Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse
- Assist Trauma Care
- Cassandra Learning Centre
- Child Bereavement Charity
- Cruse Bereavement Care
- DAMN: Death After Medical Negligence
- Escaping Victimhood
- Families Fighting for Justice
- Justice After Acquittal
- KnifeCrimes.Org and Victims’ Advocates
- Marchioness Action Group
- Mothers Against Violence
- National Victims’ Association
- P.A.L.M.S
- REMEDI
- Road Peace
- Road Victim’s Trust
- SAMM Abroad
- SAMM National
- SAMM South East
- The Compassionate Friends Supporting Bereaved Parents and their Families
- The Godwin Lawson Trust
- The Jimmy Mizen Foundation
- The Lucie Blackman Trust and Missing Abroad
- The Moira Fund
- The North Southwark Bereavement Care Association
- The Red Poppy Company
- The Robert Levy Foundation
- Through UNITY
- Winston’s Wish
- Victim Support