The only free specialist counselling service for victims of sexual violence in Northern Ireland is to end. The charity Nexus' contract with the Department of Health (DoH) is ending and there is no free specialist replacement service lined up. It gets about 200 referrals a month, from GPs, self-referrals or charities like the Rowan Sexual Assault Centre.
A spokesperson said it was "committed to using the available funding to support people who are victims of sexual abuse," and that it "recognises and understands the need for adequate support service for victims of sexual abuse." The charity has not retained the contract and there has been no process to replace them with another provider. 'Changed the trajectory of my life' One woman, who was offered 18 weekly sessions with Nexus, told BBC's Evening Extra the service had changed her life. "The nature of my circumstances meant it's not something I wanted to speak to family or friends about. I needed professional help.