Sexual Assault Referral Centres
2008 Funding Round
£1.6 million of funding is available for new and existing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) to bid for in the 2008/09 funding round.
This comprises:
- £1 million capital funding; and
- £600,000 resource funding.
Capital funding includes grants for:
- building refurbishment;
- furnishings;
- medical equipment; and
- office equipment.
Resource funding includes grants for:
- staff costs;
- publicity and publishing booklets or leaflets;
- training;
- service charges; and
- maintenance of premises.
The deadline for applications is 7 November 2008. Applicants should know the outcome of their applications by December 2008.
A new development this year is that the 2008/09 and 2009/10 SARC spending rounds will be combined. This means that:
- SARCs will be able to apply in November 2008 for funding for both spending rounds.
- SARCs not in a position in November 2008 to bid for the 2009/10 funding round will have an opportunity do so in April 2009.This is when a further funding round will be announced to spend the remainder of the 2009/10 budget.
For further information about this year’s SARC funding process, please see the list of Frequently Asked Questions
PDF 191Kb.
Application Forms
Please make sure that you use the correct application forms.
New SARC
If you are applying for funding for a NEW SARC:
- you cannot apply for resource funding
- you will only be able to bid for one off capital start up funding in either the 2008/09 or 2009/10 spending round
- use the New SARCs Application Form
Word 187Kb - refer to the Guidelines for new SARCs Application Form
PDF 260Kb
If you are considering setting up a SARC you will find the following documents useful:
- Getting Started Guide
- Developing SARCs - National Service Guidelines
- Medical Care following Sexual Assault: Guidelines for SARCs
- SARCS: Developing good Practice and Maximising Potentials
- A Gap or a Chasm? Atrrition in reported rape cases
- Tackling Sexual Violence: Guidance for Local CDRPs 2006
Other Useful documents
- The Benefits of a SARC
- The National SARC Minimum Standards
PDF 66Kb - Good Practice in Medical Responses Reported Rape, especially Forensic Examination
- Working in Partnership Developing a Whole Systems Approach - A Good Practice Guide - NHS
- Tackling the health and mental health effects of domestic violence and sexual violence and abuse
- 2001 National Guidance on the Management of Adult victims of Sexual Assault
Documents for the police
- A Policy for the Investigation of Rape and Serious Sexual Assault
- Project Sapphire Strategy - improving rape investigations and victim care
Existing SARC
If you are applying for funding for an EXISTING SARC:
- only existing SARCs that are operating can apply for existing funding
- you will be able to bid for capital and/or resource funding in both the 2008/09 and 2009/10 spending rounds
- use the Existing SARC Application Form
Word 118Kb
2007 SARC funding process
Please see the enclosed link for information about last year’s funding round: 2007 SARC funding process
Last update: Tuesday, October 14, 2008


