A YORK based charity which helps the victims of rape and sexual abuse has received a cash boost from the Ministry of Justice.

Survive, which was founded in 1990, supports women and men who have survived child sexual abuse, rape or sexual assault.

The organisation has recently heard it has won a government grant, and although charity's staff cannot reveal how much money they have been awarded they say it will help secure their work in the years to come.

Fundraiser and volunteer Helen Aitchison said: "We are delighted to have been granted the Ministry of Justice funding as Survive does such important work and this gives us a much more certain future."

But, she said, the charity still relies heavily on fundraising and donations from volunteers for vital funds to keeps its support services open.

The organisation's fundraising efforts suffered a blow last year when York student Louis Lunts' attempts to raise cash were hit by the crisis at online donation organisation CharityGiving.

Louis set out on an epic 2000 mile London to Istanbul bike ride and aimed to raise £2000 for Survive, but three weeks in to his five week journey CharityGiving had its accounts frozen by the Charity Commission after £250,000 went missing from its accounts.

He had already raised £2400 for Survive, and although supporters then pledged £500 through another site, Survive never saw any of his original total.

Now the charity has several fundarising events coming up to help raise more cash. Six people are taking part in the York triathlon on April 27, and a fundraising quiz night will be held at 7.30pm on April 28 at The Ackhorne pub in St Martin's Lane, off Micklegate.

The charity is also raffling off a £200 trolley dash around the Coop Food Store on Hull Road. Tickets cost £1 and are available from the office at 15 Priory Street, off MIckelgate, or on 01904 638813.

To support those taking part in the triathlon, you can donate via https://mydonate.bt.com/teams/survive