Government to launch £200,000 fund to support military sexual abuse survivors

The government has announced plans for the launch of a £200,000 fund to support women veterans who have suffered sexual trauma while in the military.

Grants through the fund will be made available to healthcare organisations and charities to bolster support, including training on supporting the mental health needs of female veterans who have experienced sexual trauma.

Signposting support through promotion, newsletters, peer networks and online will also be funded through the Fund’s grants.

It also aims to pay for improved data across government and charities to improve access to support and outcomes for survivors.

Funding further research into the experiences of female veterans and supporting their transition from service, including personal finance, housing, and employment opportunities, are also included.

The find has been launched in response to three government commissioned research reports by Anglia Ruskin and Robert Gordon universities as well as veteran mental health charity Combat Stress, calling for tailored support from statutory and charitable services for women in the military.

Combat Stress’ research looked at using treatment such as cognitive processing therapy for women veterans who had experienced sexual trauma. This research revealed that their experiences are currently not widely understood by healthcare professionals or the wider veteran community.

“Our previous research identified that around one in four women veterans experienced sexual traumas during their military service, said Combat Stress head of research Dominic Murphy.

He added that the charity’s latest findings “are the first stage in ensuring that women veterans can receive the support they deserve”.

The reports’ findings will be fed into a Women Veterans’ Strategy, due to be published by the government in spring 2024.

“Our service women are an integral part of the Armed Forces community and the sacrifices they make to defend our nation are immense,” said defence people, veterans, and service families minister Andrew Murrison.

“These reports will give us further insight into the experiences of our female veterans and allow us to continue providing support during their service and beyond.”