The Microgaming Health & Care Trust has funded specialist staff training in order to boost Victim Support Isle of Man in providing support in cases that involve sexual violence.

Victim Support is an independent registered charity in the Isle of Man that offers confidential assistance to victims and witnesses of crime, together with their family and friends.

A huge part of Victim Support Isle of Man’s work is supporting victims who have been affected by sexual violence with the charity having attended to 143 new sexual abuse referrals over the past two years and recently seen an increase in tough cases.

The donation by The Microgaming Health & Trust Fund has given the charity the opportunity to fund a training course for its General Manager, Paula Gelling, enabling her to qualify as an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) and adding to her existing Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) qualification.

Paula Gelling commented that she is delighted and grateful that the Microgaming Health & Care Trust supported her to undertake this vital training.

Gelling went on to say that as an IDVA and now an ISVA, she has access to a network hub of other professionals throughout the UK, through which they regularly liaise and inform one another.

Paul Novellie, the Trustee at the Microgaming Health & Care Trust, revealed that the Trustee had no hesitation in supporting this worthy cause which plays such a crucial role in their community.  He added that they were delighted to help strengthen the care Victim Support Isle of Man provides to people when they are at their most vulnerable.