HRH The Princess Royal hears first-hand from victims and survivors of crime and frontline workers at Victim Support Gwent

Victims and survivors of crime shared powerful personal experiences with the charity’s President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, as she visited frontline Victim Support teams in Gwent today - describing how specialist support helped them feel safer and begin to rebuild their lives after crime.

Her Royal Highness met victims, survivors, volunteers and frontline caseworkers at Monmouthshire County Hall in Gwent, to learn more about the life-changing impact of independent victims’ services.

Victim Support Gwent, based in Pontypool, supports thousands of people every year, affected by all types of crime. Its specialist caseworkers help people understand their options, navigate the criminal justice system, develop personal safety plans, access practical support and feel heard and believed after often traumatic experiences.

A victim-survivor of domestic violence, who spoke to The Princess Royal today, said: “Victim Support’s group sessions have been like a sanctuary for me, a godsend - my caseworker is an absolute diamond. He has supported me through child protection proceedings, social care referrals, police investigations and has advocated for me as a victim when I felt my voice wasn’t being heard. He's kept me calm and stable.

“It's so important this group keeps going, for other survivors. I can’t even begin to put into words how much the service has helped me. I came into the system alone, scared, and a victim; I’ve come out the system heard, listened to and a survivor of domestic abuse. I honestly would have been lost without the support.”

The Princess Royal also took time to sit down privately with victims and survivors of crime who have received life-changing support from the Victim Support Gwent team.

During the visit, The Princess Royal – who has been President of Victim Support since 2001 - heard how Victim Support Gwent is expanding support to meet the needs of victims locally, including:

• A new specialist service dedicated to supporting children and young people.

• An innovative remote video evidence site, allowing victims to give evidence without attending court in person. 
• A new peer support programme, bringing victims and survivors together through structured group sessions, creating a safe and empathetic space for them to process their experiences. 

The Princess also met the team from the Wales Hate Support Centre – an essential service delivered by Victim Support which provides emotional and practical support and reporting services across Wales for victims and witnesses of hate crime. Experiencing hate crime can be a particularly frightening experience and the team supported around 2,000 people last year - including 241 younger people - with one in five going on to receive more intensive, longer-term support.

Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Mudd said: “Becoming a victim of crime can be a traumatic and life-changing experience. It can affect people physically and emotionally, with consequences that may continue to cause harm many years later.

“Putting victims first is the key commitment in my Police, Crime and Justice Plan. Victims need high-quality, trauma-informed support to help them cope, recover, and reduce the risk of becoming victims again in the future. We are continually working to ensure that victims of crime in Gwent have the best possible support, and I thank HRH The Princess Royal for listening to victims and survivors about how this work is helping them move forward with their lives.”

Jessica Brooks, Victim Support’s Area Manager for Wales, said: “We are extremely proud of the services we deliver in Gwent and across Wales to provide support for all victims of crime at their lowest point. It’s been a privilege to talk to HRH The Princess Royal about the vital work carried out every day by our expert team and amazing volunteers, and to hear from victims and survivors about the role specialist support has played in helping them move forward.

“With hate crime and other forms of abuse continuing to affect communities across Wales, it’s more important than ever that all victims have access to free, independent and confidential support, whenever they need it. Every victim deserves to feel heard and supported."

Katie Kempen, Chief Executive at Victim Support, said: “Crime can affect every part of a person’s life, often leaving them unsure where to turn. That’s why we’re so grateful to Her Royal Highness for taking the time today to hear directly from victims and survivors themselves. Their experiences are a powerful reminder that specialist support changes lives.

“Whether it’s creating space to really listen and help victims and survivors come to terms with what they’ve been through, helping them to feel safe after experiencing abuse, advocating on their behalf and being in the room during difficult conversations, or helping them to navigate complex court proceedings and police investigations, our incredible team offer a lifeline to all those who need it, helping them rebuild confidence, safety and hope."