Cornwall’s police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez has announced £140,000 of support for child sexual abuse victims which will be provided through eight local organisations.

Eight charities in Devon and Cornwall will each get a share of the funding, which is being provided by the Ministry of Justice to ensure practical and emotional support to victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.

The organisations Children’s Society, Devon Rape Crisis, North Devon Against Domestic Abuse, Tor Support, Victim Support, and Spiral Pathways (collaboration involving CLEAR Cornwall, Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, and Cornwall Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre), will receive the cash as the ministry recognises that, having become victims of sexual abuse and/or exploitation, children and young people are facing increased waiting times to access therapeutic services.

Ms Hernandez said: “It is my intention that this funding will be used to provide direct support for our most vulnerable children and young people to help them cope and recover from the trauma of their experience.

“It will help reduce waiting lists and extend the help provided by existing services.”

The process attracted fourteen applications from a range of organisations, with bids totalling over £575,000.

Having completed an initial evaluation of applications, consultation took place with relevant partners to seek their views and ensure there was no duplication of effort in commissioning similar services.

Lyn Gooding, partnership officer for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), was responsible for administering the process. She said: “Ideally we would have liked to support all the applications received.

“All were worthy of investment. However, with limited funding, the decision was made to prioritise those applications that helped address the increase in waiting times.”