Catch22 are excited to announce the launch of our new Victims Resource Hub, a comprehensive online platform designed to provide victims of crime with information, guidance and support. With this online tool, we hope to provide support in a way that feels comfortable and accessible. Whether it be for individuals already engaging with our services, or those independently seeking advice and support, we want everyone to be able to access the tools necessary to guide them through their healing process.
Catch22 currently have 4 services supporting victims of crime across London, Manchester, Hertfordshire and Leicestershire, Catch22 has extensive frontline experience in supporting individuals who have experienced criminal activity.
Why is the Victim Resource Hub needed?
Through our frontline work, Catch22 understands that experiencing crime can bring up an array of complex emotions: vulnerability, fear or even feelings of shame and embarrassment. Research shows that one in five adults who experienced crime (excluding fraud and computer misuse) reported symptoms of depression in the past year. Additionally, victims of crime were 50% more likely to experience anxiety, even after adjusting for other factors. Many people find it difficult to vocalise these negative emotions, so are left feeling lost; unsure of which steps to take next in order to move forwards.
Engaging with the criminal justice system can add further complications to the recovery process. Having to attend court or give statements can be intimidating, overwhelming and might bring back unpleasant or even traumatic memories and emotions. Besides this, the procedure itself can be prone to delays and difficulties, meaning that victims can be left feeling powerless and invalidated in their experiences. Although no recovery process is completely linear, experiencing setbacks- either in an emotional or procedural sense- can be incredibly frustrating.
We are also aware of how challenging it can be to provide the necessary support to victims of crime, both for family members and professionals. Any one person cannot be expected to have all the answers, so by sharing our knowledge and expertise we hope that we can provide a starting point, enabling people to feel more confident supporting those around them.
What does the Victim Resource Hub hope to achieve?
We understand the unique challenges experienced by victims of crime and are committed to supporting those who are struggling. Our Victim Resource Hub offers free, accessible resources; empowering victims to take control of their recovery at their own pace. Our aim is to remove barriers, allowing as many people as possible to embark upon the journey of supporting themselves or those around them.
We hope that the Victim Resource Hub, along with our other victim support services, can provide far-reaching and inclusive support for individuals in need. We recognise that some people find it difficult to identify themselves as victims of crime or are not yet ready to reach out for help directly, possibly due to feelings of shame or embarrassment. Our goal is to ensure that, whether individuals are accessing our services or seeking support independently, they are doing so in a way that feels comfortable for them and gives them agency over their own recovery journey.
How does the Victim Resource Hub work?
The resources on the hub have been developed by our experienced interventions team and informed by our practitioners’ in-depth understanding of the issues that victims of crime face. It is packed with helpful resources which are first divided into support for adults, children and young people, and professionals. These materials are then further categorised by crime type, so users can easily access the specialised support they are looking for.
Once on the hub, individuals can explore a wide range of advice, guidance, and self-help materials designed to:
- Empower victims to understand and manage their situation,
- Offer practical steps for coping and recovering, and
- Connect victims with further support and services.
Emma Jones, Assistant Director (Victims), Catch22, said:
“Our Victim Resource Hub is an innovative step forward in achieving our goal to reach as many victims of crime as we can. We hope that by providing these resources freely and sharing the knowledge that we have gathered through our frontline work, we can empower victims to take steps in their recovery in a way that works for them.”
Whether you’ve been impacted by crime yourself, or you want to learn how to provide effective support to victims, we encourage you to explore the Victim Resource Hub and access support, guidance and tools to help navigate the road to recovery.
If you’ve been a victim of crime and are seeking advice, guidance, or support, visit our victim services. For additional support options, you can also visit the government guidance on victim and witness services.