Victims of serious road traffic collisions will get specialist help and support thanks to funding from Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has given national road safety charity Brake £4,160 from the Police Property Act Fund.
The grant will contribute towards specialist support from Brake’s National Road Victim Service for families whose loved ones have been killed or suffered the most serious injuries in road collisions.
In addition to trauma-informed support, the grant will pay for a set of 50 information guides. The guides are easy-to-read and give practical and emotional advice to victims, their families and those working with them.
PCC Steve Turner chose a visit to Cleveland’s Roads Policing Unit to announce the funding and hand over the packs.
The visit gave Steve the chance to take a look at how officers keep the region’s roads safe and thank them for their hard work.
He said: “The trauma suffered by families who suffer a bereavement or life-changing injury in a road collision is unimaginable.
“The fact that the impact is sudden, immediate and unexpected only adds to the anxiety and distress.
“I hope funding to support Brake’s National Road Victim Service can help alleviate some of that suffering, fear and uncertainty.”
Police officers and health professionals will be able to give the charity’s guides to victims and their families straight after a collision.
The guides explain in depth what happens after a collision. They are aimed at a range of readers from bereaved children to those learning to live with serious injury.
Up to six victims and their families will have access to the National Road Victim Service’s specialist case worker. He/she will provide emotional and practical support.
Temporary Inspector Michael Parish said: “Cleveland Police use Brake information guides as they provide support for families at a time that is often traumatic and life changing.
“The guides enable the police to signpost families to services – including legal guidance and counselling – that can provide wraparound care to those who have been affected by road collisions.
“Working with Brake enables Cleveland Police to provide a welfare-driven service to the community while promoting road safety within our area.”
Latest figures released by the Department of Transport in July show that there were an estimated nine deaths on Cleveland’s roads during 2021. There were an estimated 837 casualties during the same period.*
Brake estimates that there could be 32 families who will suffer either bereavement or catastrophic injury following road collisions in Cleveland over the next 12 months.
Jami Blythe, Development Manager at Brake, said: “Sadly, road crashes are still common – every 22 minutes someone is killed or seriously injured on a UK road. We are grateful to the Police Property Act for funding.”