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National Rape Crisis
For general information about Rape Crisis, please contact the Co-ordinator:
Alternatively, you can contact the Policy Officer:
- by phone: 01375 381322
- by post: SERICC, The Hall, West Street, Grays, Essex, RM17 6LL
- by email: policy@rapecrisis.org.uk
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre National Freephone Helpline:
- 0808 802 99 99
- 12-2.30pm and 7-9.30pm
- Every Day of the Year
Who we are...
Rape Crisis reformed in 2003 and registered as a charity in 2007 to promote the needs of women and girls who have experienced sexual violence, improve services to them and work towards the elimination of sexual violence. We are an umbrella body working to co-ordinate and support a network of independent affiliated Rape Crisis Centres (RCCs) across England and Wales. We campaign to raise awareness, improve the response of Government and other organisations and challenge public attitudes about the acceptability of sexual violence.
Rape Crisis acknowledges all forms of sexual violence, including; rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, sexual harassment, rape in marriage, forced marriage, and so-called honour-based violence, female genital mutilation, trafficking and sexual exploitation; ritual abuse and sexual harassment, irrespective of whether the violence is from known or unknown perpetrators.
Rape Crisis Centres provide crucial frontline support and independent advocacy for all women of all ages who have experienced any form of sexual violence both recently and/or in the past; they are community based, and independent of government and the criminal justice system.
The first Centre opened in 1973; they now offer a wide range of specialist support and information for women and girl survivors, families, friends and professionals including: helplines, face-to-face counselling and support, group work, advocacy (such as supporting women to access the criminal justice system or housing), practical support and supervision for other agencies.
Services are women-centred, delivered free of charge and in confidence, in a safe and non-threatening environment. They work to feminist principles, recognizing that gender based violence is a cause and consequence of gender inequality, and it requires a gender-specific, evidence-based response. Achieving real equality means tackling the structural inequality and privilege that is embedded in society and in gender relations. We believe that by providing women-only space, we can challenge structures which have historically discriminated against women and girls, and provide the most effective care and services.
Rape Crisis groups are autonomous, but have come together to work under the umbrella of Rape Crisis (England and Wales) [RC (E&W)]. We provide members with information, good practice guidance, and links to national and regional networks to share expertise.
The Co-ordination project is based at Cornwall Rape Crisis is also a contact point for individuals and organisations seeking support and information about sexual violence. Our Policy Officer provides Centres with policy support, national data and enables RCCs to contribute to consultations.
The Policy & Strategy working group develop and maintain effective relationships with government and key national & regional bodies and represent RC (E&W) at national level. The Policy project is based at South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre.
Helpline number
The Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) in Croydon provides a free phone number for their helpline service. The number, which is completely free from landlines and public phones, will not appear on callers' bills. It is also free from the main six UK mobile networks - 3, Orange, Virgin, Vodafone, T-Mobile and O2 - enabling vulnerable service users to access a helpline free and confidentially.
The RASASC helpline is open every day of the year, including weekends and bank holidays, from 12-14:30 and in the evening from 19–21:30, taking calls nationally from female and male survivors as well as non-abusing families, partners, friends and other agencies.
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
National Freephone Helpline
0808 802 99 99
12-2.30pm and 7-9.30pm
Every Day of the Year
Sexual Violence in England and Wales
Sexual violence can affect anyone of any age, of any background, with or without a disability. The term 'sexual violence' describes any non-consensual sexual act ranging from 'flashing', obscene phone calls and being made to watch or take part in pornography to sexual harassment, stalking , sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse and rape.
It is much more common that people think...
- Around 21% of girls and 11% of boys experience some form of child sexual abuse.
- 23% of women and 3% of men experience sexual assault as an adult. 5% of women and 0.4% of men experience rape.
It represents a form of gender inequality...
- Most perpetrators are male and most victims are female. Sexual violence is both a consequence and cause of gender inequality.
It causes fear in communities...
- Women are more worried about rape than any other crime.
It can cause severe and long lasting harm to victims...
- Direct physical health consequences of sexual violence and child sexual abuse include physical injury, sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy.
- Long-term consequences of sexual violence and child sexual abuse include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and panic attacks, depression, social phobia, substance abuse, obesity, eating disorders, self-harm and suicide, (and, in some cases, offending behaviour. Child abuse can also impact on educational attainment and school attendance.
...and to society...
- The overall cost of sexual offences in 2003-4 was estimated at £8.5 billion, with each rape costing over £76,000. Much of this cost is made up of lost output and costs to the health service resulting from long term health issues faced by victims.
Victims do not always get the support they need...
40% of adults who are raped tell no-one about it. 31% of children who are abused reach adulthood without having disclosed their abuse. This means that victims do not always get support they need to deal with the abuse or violence they have experienced. Where victims do try and access support, it has not always been available.
It is an important and dangerous element of domestic violence...
Many people believe that adult sexual violence and child sexual abuse are usually committed by a stranger. In fact, perpetrators are usually known to the victim and many are partners or family members. Rape is associated with the most severe cases of domestic violence, and is a risk factor for domestic homicide.
Offenders have been getting away with it...
Only 15% of rapes against people 16 and over are reported to the police and of those only 5.7% result in an offender being convicted for that offence (2005-6 figures). This means that those who commit these very serious crimes may continue to pose a risk to the public.
(Home Office Statistics, 2007)
Rape Crisis Centres vary greatly in the services that they offer and in the ways that they operate. The basic services that all Centres offer are:
- Information for survivors, families, friends and professionals
- Some kind of support for survivors
They may also offer:
- A telephone helpline
- Face-to-face support
- Face-to-face counselling
- Advocacy
- Email support, text messaging etc.
- Practical support and Advocacy
- Support groups
- Specialist services
- Outreach Joint projects
- Training
- Signposting for additional support services
- Supervision for external agencies and professionals
- Consultation with local and national bodies such as health services, the criminal justice system, government departments, local authority and statutory services like housing and social services etc.
- Campaigning and awareness raising
Full contact details for local rape crisis services can be found at www.rapecrisis.org.uk on the 'centres' page.
Links to other support services and campaign organisations
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Truth about Rape - Formed in 2002 to challenge myths about rape and bring its realities back onto the public agenda.
www.truthaboutrape.co.uk
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Campaign to End Rape - A national coalition of feminist activists from Justice for Women, the Rape Crisis movement, YCWA and other individual activists, feminist lawyers and academics.
www.cer.truthaboutrape.co.uk
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Rape Crisis Scotland - Set up to support the work of centres in Scotland, and to help the Rape Crisis movement develop and improve services to women across Scotland.
www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
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Rape Crisis Network Ireland - A multi-member political and campaigning organisation committed to the elimination of all forms of sexual violence through effecting political, cultural and social change.
www.rcni.ie
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Directory and Book Services - A national resource and directory of services across the UK and Ireland. A comprehensive booklist is also available online.
www.dabsbooks.co.uk
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Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University - Centre for independent research, evaluation, training, consultancy and networking.
www.cwasu.org
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End Violence Against Women - A Coalition Campaign that was launched on 23rd November 2005. EVAW believes that women in the UK are entitled to live their lives free from gender-based violence and discrimination, and that the UK Governments have a leading role to play in creating a society that does not tolerate or excuse violence against women.
www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk
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Women's Resource Centre
www.whywomen.org.uk
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CriSiS in Rape Crisis... archive
Rape Crisis (England and Wales) have been raising awareness of the historic underinvestment in sexual violence services.
Please visit our CriSiS in Rape Crisis... archive page for information from past developments and media coverage.
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- www.rapecrisis.org.uk
