Press Release

23 November 2006

Home Office funding for Road Crash Victim Support Services finally to comply with the Government's Compact on Funding.

The first ever Lifeline for road crash victims - helpline 0845 4500 355 - established in 1992 by RoadPeace - continues to offer vital support.

RoadPeace, the specialist national charity for road crash victims, welcomes the Home Office's decision to end its closed funding practice for the literature to road crash victims in order to now comply with Compact principles launched by them in 1998!

In 1998, the Government signed a Compact with the Voluntary Sector to provide fair access to funding for the sector. RoadPeace, a member of the National Council for Voluntary Services, which represented the voluntary sector in connection with the Compact, was the only road victim charity at the time.

Funding for literature for road crash victims was given by the Home Office to a consultancy at that time, without the open procedure required by the Compact.

In 2002, a National Audit Office report noted that the Home Office had not provided open access to its funds in relation to road crash victims, and therefore had not complied with the Compact. The report stated:

'The Home Office is now committed when funding becomes available, to going out to tender for the provision of a proposed new service for the victims of road traffic incidents; and to tender for any other future new services'

RoadPeace believes that this decision represents a long awaited opportunity for a government funded improved support service for families bereaved through a road death, and for injured victims, including the literature for them.

Brigitte Chaudhry, RoadPeace founder, said:
"It would be wrong for a key government department to continue offering a monopoly on funding of literature or support services to victims, in direct contravention of the Compact on Funding, especially for a service, such as the support service for road traffic victims, where many organisations are involved - from Bereavement and Trauma to Advocacy and Information organisations and charities, all of which are vital to people who have suffered a traumatic bereavement or injury through a road crash."

"An open and transparent funding procedure by the Home Office is essential to bring fairness both to victims and charities supporting them, and is long overdue."

Contacts:

RoadPeace office 020 8838 5102
Amy Aeron-Thomas, RoadPeace director 07905 847 917
Brigitte Chaudhry, RoadPeace founder 020 8964 1800

For Editors:

The description of RoadPeace for the present Home Office funded literature:

RoadPeace, the UK national charity for road traffic victims

Established in1992, RoadPeace's national helpline for road crash victims is a lifeline offering vital information and support based on expertise, empathy and understanding, supported by free literature written from the perspective of road victims and the experience of thousands of cases.

Long-term support and friendship are offered through mailings, local groups and contacts with other victims, and ways of remembrance, including:

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, initiated in 1993 by RoadPeace and adopted by the UN in 2005.

• Remember Me' roadside memorial plaque
• Internet memorial (internetmemorial@roadpeace.org)
• Local memorials, eg. RoadPeace Garden in Manchester
• Memorial trees in the RoadPeace Wood in the National Memorial Arboretum
• August National Road Victim Month

Helpline 0845 4500 355, open 7 days from 9am to 9pm
e-mail - helpline@roadpeace.org

RoadPeace Office
tel/fax: 020 8838 5102/020 8838 5103
info@roadpeace.org
mailto:info@roadpeace.org RoadPeace, PO Box 2579, London NW10 3PW