DRASACS Scoops £250,000 Funding Win from the Big Lottery

Doncaster Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service (DRASACS) has been awarded almost £250,000 from the Big Lottery ‘Reaching Communities’ fund.

DRASACS submitted an outline proposal back in February and received news that their bid had been successful at the end of October.

Explains Becca Pearson, funding officer at DRASACS:

“I was absolutely delighted to receive such a positive response to our bid from the BIG Lottery and couldn’t wait to share the news with the team here and our board members!

“This funding is vital to secure the future of the organisation because, as a registered charity, we rely on organisations such as the Big Lottery and charitable donations.”

The £250,000 awarded to DRASACS will be split over three years and will enable the charity to continue to employ one full-time counsellor and one part-time counselor as well as recruiting a new part-time counsellor. Continues Becca:

“The fact that we can secure the employment of our counsellors for another three years is a huge benefit to our clients. And the fact we can recruit an additional part-time counsellor will help us to further reduce our waiting list and, ultimately, support even more local people who have suffered rape or sexual abuse.”

Concludes Vanessa White, Big Lottery Fund’s Head of Yorkshire and Humber Region:

“DRASACS provide a vital listening ear, support and understanding to vulnerable and often isolated victims of rape and sexual assault in the Doncaster area. The work of this group is literally life changing.”