TRAFFORD rape victims are set to benefit from thousands of pounds of funding.

Today - which is also the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day - the Ministry of Justice has announced that it will be spending £600,000 to develop four Rape Crisis Centres in the UK.

Trafford Rape Crisis (TRC), based in Sale, is one of the centres earmarked to benefit from the funding and will get £115,000.

The centre runs a helpline that offers support to woman in Trafford who have experienced rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse no matter how long ago.

Dr Kate Cook, who founded TRC last year, said it was ‘wonderful’ news.

“It’s just fantastic to get that support and it gives us such a great leap!

“It’s going to mean that we can set up many more services and open for longer hours,” she said.

Since TRC opened as a pilot project in July with 25 volunteers it has been inundated with calls from women.

Dr Cook plans to use the money to employ three women to help coordinate the volunteers, launch a new service for black and asian women, develop a text and online support service and provide well-being classes for women.

She also hopes to develop training programmes for other organisations and agencies, and work more with the police and council.

Justice minister, Crispin Blunt, said: "Rape and sexual violence are devastating crimes which ruin lives.

“By providing long-term funding for a new rape support centre in Trafford the Government is demonstrating its commitment to ensure that the most vulnerable victims of crime receive the specialist support they need to rebuild their lives."

TRC are hosting an official launch on Friday March 11 at St Matthews Church Hall in Stretford.

To contact TRC visit traffordrapecrisis.com, email dorothytrc@hotmail.co.uk or call 0800 783 4608 on Thursdays 6pm to 9pm and Sundays from 3pm to 6pm.