Birmingham-based organisation, GINA, has been awarded nearly £20,000 from the Young Gamechangers Fund to expand immediate in-person, online, and telephone counselling for survivors of sexual trauma. This comes as sexual violence-related crimes have been on the rise, with a 37% increase reported. Additionally, young survivors have been facing severe mental health challenges, highlighting the need for increased support services.
The Young Gamechangers Fund, a youth-led funding initiative funded by the Co-op Foundation and delivered by Restless Development and Global Fund for Children, aims to support bold and transformative projects driven by young people striving for social change.
GINA is one of the UK’s only private sexual trauma-crisis organisations, offering immediate specialist support that is led entirely by young people with lived experience of sexual trauma. This funding will allow GINA to scale its counselling services, co-produced activist resources, and volunteering opportunities, empowering survivors to heal, raise awareness, and campaign for change.
Monica Tolosa Tejedor, GINA Support Lead, expressed her excitement about the funding, stating, “This funding is an opportunity to help GINA grow, expanding the reach and impact of our support services for those who need them most.”
GINA’s Leadership Team, which is made up of young women aged 23, 25, and 27 with extensive experience in the sexual violence support sector, leads a volunteer team of 30 activists, all with lived experience. The organisation prides itself on reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the young survivors it supports, including LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, ethnic minority, and disabled individuals, as well as those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who face barriers to accessing mental health support.
Through this funding, GINA will continue to challenge societal norms, provide safe and compassionate spaces, and build a community-driven movement where young survivors are heard, valued, and empowered. This initiative aligns with the Young Gamechangers Fund’s mission to support young people in creating positive change within their communities.
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