If you have experienced sexual violence or abuse, the most important thing to remember is that it was not your fault.
You have options about what happens next. You can take some time to think and make choices in your own time. We are here for you when you are ready.
If something happened recently
If you are in immediate danger, please call 999.
If the assault happened within the last 10 days, a local Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) can offer you medical & practical assistance (for those under 18 the SARC can offer assistance for both recent and historic assaults).
We do not endorse the use of self-swab kits. You can find out why here.
Making a Referral for support with us
To access our support, you will first need to make a referral.
You can make a self-referral through our website here.
Someone else can refer you to us with your permission, they can do this by calling us on 01392 208756.
Support Planning
Once we have your referral, we will contact you to book a support planning appointment with one of our Specialist Support Workers. This can be in person, online or over the phone.
During this meeting we will talk about your needs and goals to build a support plan with you.
Advocacy
We are able to offer additional help if needed, to help you access other services or fill in forms for example. This is to ensure you have access to the services you need, at the right time for you. For some people this support can help them feel ready to access one-to-one or group specialist support with us.
We can also help you to speak to an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA), for advice around reporting, if this is something you would like to do. More information about the ISVA service can be found here.
Specialist Support
Our Specialist Support is available for people aged 13 and over.
Our team of female Specialist Support Workers have specific skills and understanding of the impact of sexual abuse. All our workers are very skilled in working with trauma and helping with specific symptoms such as flashbacks, panic attacks and nightmares.
Specialist Support is not therapy or counselling, so whilst you are welcome to share your experiences with your Specialist Support Worker, they are not trained counsellors so they will not ask questions or work through processing memories with you.
Support Preferences
We will ask you about your support preferences, and if you would prefer, we can also arrange for your specialist support to be with one of our specialist partner organisations (for example if Intercom Trust if you would prefer a LGBTQ+ service, or FearFree if you would prefer a male worker).
After having Specialist Support, some people choose to go on to access our Therapy services. These services have limited availability, and are only available for people aged 18 and over (there is further information about therapeutic support if you are under 18 here)
Our trauma informed model of support means your sessions will be personal to you and your needs. We understand that everyone’s needs from therapeutic support will not be the same.
Depending on your needs and goals, you may be offered Therapeutic Support, Pre-Trial Therapy or EMDR.
After you complete your support with us, we are also able to offer onward support such as community & peer support spaces. Your support worker will be able to give you more information about this during your final sessions.
We run several events throughout the year which help you to stay connected with our community of survivors, reducing isolation and promoting solidarity. Events often include being in nature, craft, wellbeing and learning more skills or approaches to support your continued recovery. You can tell your specialist support worker when they do their support plan with you that you would like. This helps us to build this offer to suit your needs.