A crowdfunding appeal set up to help save a Suffolk charity that supports survivors of sexual violence has reached its £1,125 target in under 48 hours.

Ipswich Star: Suffolk Rape Crisis employees who launched the appeal. L-R Helen Taylor, Louise Hayward, Selina Wagstaff, Shane Begby, Chris Nightingale.Suffolk Rape Crisis employees who launched the appeal. L-R Helen Taylor, Louise Hayward, Selina Wagstaff, Shane Begby, Chris Nightingale. (Image: Sarah Lucy brown)

Suffolk Rape Crisis (SRC) was facing the prospect of scaling back its services or making staff redundancies unless it found funding to replace its core grant, which is coming to an end in September.

With no more pots of cash to apply for, staff from SRC, which is run by women for women, called on the help of the public by launching a fundraising campaign.Donations quickly came pouring in and within two days SRC, which is the only charity operating in Suffolk that supports all females over the age of 14 who have been raped or sexually assaulted, had exceeded its fundraising goal.

Staff are now hoping to raise even more cash to keep its services running for longer.

Selina Wagstaff, project manager for SRC, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the community has come together to help us reach our initial target in less than 48 hours.

“This funding will secure the delivery of 25 counselling sessions for women and girls who have experienced sexual violence and we would like to thank everyone who has donated for their generosity and support.

“Having surpassed our initial target we have been inspired to stretch our target to £8,000 by August, this amount will secure 178 counselling sessions helping even more women and girls access vital support.”

SRC opened its first branch in Ipswich in 2010, and soon saw demand rising. It now has another two bases, in Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft, and is giving face-to-face support to almost 50 women and girls every week.

To donate, click here.