Sexual assault online resources win government-backed award

An online support service for survivors of sexual assault has won a government-backed prize for digital projects aimed at tackling loneliness.

You Are Not Alone has been named winner of Tech to Connect, a digital prize funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DDCMS) and run by Nesta Challenges to recognise tech-based schemes to reduce social isolation.

The resource has been created by community interest company Chayn with the aim of becoming the world’s largest collaborative resource for survivors of sexual assault.

The UK online resource is also operational in India, Pakistan and Italy.

The service includes signposting details of local shelters, sexual violence units, lawyers and therapists and to help survivors suffering from isolation to stay connected.

The submissions for the award were made before the coronavirus outbreak.

But a statement from the DDCMS and Nesta said: “Innovative tech solutions that bring people together virtually and provide online support will be even more important as people across Britain limit their face-to-face contact to reduce the spread of the virus.”

According to latest figures one in five women in the UK will experience sexual assault in their lifetime, rising to one in three globally.

In addition, 664,000 men in England and Wales have been victims of sexual assault since they were 16.

“Chayn really understands how to help survivors of sexual assault take control of their situation while minimising their risk of social isolation,” said Tris Dyson, Executive Director of Nesta Challenges.

“By providing tailored assistance through You Are Not Alone (YANA) to organisations that are closest to the problems they are trying to tackle, we can help to scale up and deliver technology that really reflects the needs of its users.”