Microgaming Boosts Victim Support On Isle Of Man

By Brian Cullingworth, Last updated Feb 1, 2019

Funds specialist staff training

The Microgaming Health & Care Trust has funded specialist staff training to boost Victim Support Isle of Man’s provision of support in cases involving sexual violence.

Victim Support is an independent Isle of Man registered charity that delivers free, confidential help to victims and witnesses of crime, along with their family and friends.

Supporting victims affected by sexual violence is a major part of Victim Support Isle of Man’s work; the charity received 143 new sexual abuse referrals over the last two years and has recently seen an increase in complex cases.

The Trust’s donation has enabled the charity to fund a training course for its general manager Paula Gelling, enabling her to qualify as an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA).

Since its inception, the charity has helped those affected by sexual violence, and its support staff all undertake professional training in this area.

The ISVA qualification further reinforces the support the charity currently delivers and enables the qualified ISVA to provide emotional and practical support to victims of sexual offences. This includes addressing the victims’ ongoing safety and guiding them through the criminal justice process.

To qualify, Paula attended a four-day training course delivered by UK domestic abuse charity SafeLives. The ISVA certification adds to Paula’s existing Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) qualification.

Paula Gelling, General Manager at Victim Support Isle of Man:

“I am delighted and very grateful that the Microgaming Health & Care Trust supported me to undertake this vital training. The training was excellent and has enabled me to build on my other skills from the Victim Support training, as well as providing me with the most up-to-date competences available in this field.

“As an IDVA and now an ISVA, I have access to a network hub of other professionals throughout the UK, through which we regularly liaise and inform one another. The training has given me the experience of walking in a victim’s shoes, so I can better understand their issues and needs. This enables us, at the very worst time of a victim’s life, to provide the very best service.”

Paul Novellie, Trustee at the Microgaming Health & Care Trust:

“The Trustees had no hesitation in supporting this worthy cause which plays such a crucial role in our community. We were delighted to help strengthen the care Victim Support Isle of Man provides to people when they are at their most vulnerable.”

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