About us
Offering practical and emotional support for anyone affected by sexual violence, Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) works to empower people to find their own way of living: To thrive – not to just survive.
GRASAC was established in 1984 to support women and girls who have been affected by sexual violence at any point in their life. Our organisation is rooted in feminist principles, recognising the role that the majority of sexual violence continues to be perpetrated against women and girls. As the organisation has grown, GRASAC has expanded its services to support men and boys, trans men and trans women, and people who define themselves as non-binary. Throughout, we have remained committed to our feminist, survivor-centred, and trauma informed principles and have been guided by these in the way we deliver our services and make decisions to provide an inclusive service for all.
We define sex as ‘biological’ in line with the Equality Act 2010 and as clarified in recent legal developments, including the Supreme Court ruling in 'For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers'. The way we provide our services will ensure we continue to provide a service for all.
What to expect
When you reach out to us for support, we will ask you some questions so you have a choice in how you are supported. We will ask you to share your biological sex in addition to your gender identity. We will keep this information confidential, and will respect your chosen pronouns. We will advise you on the support available, depending on your preferences for service options. This includes dedicated women-only days in the office, a women-only space, and groups for all survivors (women, men, trans women, trans men, and non-binary people) of sexual violence. If there is no suitable support option offered by GRASAC, we will identify alternative formats to provide you with support, including where appropriate, signposting you to other services. We are proud to work with other expert organisations who can support you to access support for rape and sexual violence, so you have your needs met. We recognise that sex and gender matter when supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse and encourage you to tell us what you need so you can access the best support possible for you
What does GRASAC offer?
We are a women-only organisation, which means that we only employ women staff and volunteers in line with Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. We are also led by a board of women trustees. In our offices we offer women-only spaces 2days a week. We provide 3 days per week for all genders, including male, trans, and non-binary survivors. We also offer outreach and 1:1 support for those unable to attend in person. GRASAC recognises the importance of inclusive support for all survivors. Alongside maintaining biologically single-sex spaces, we are seeking to expand our support offer over time, including developing a dedicated group ‘by and for’ trans and non-binary survivors, ensuring everyone has access to the support they need in the most appropriate format and feel welcome, safe and supported. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss GRASAC’s approaches, please email info@glosrasac.org.uk
“I am not what happened to me, I am who I choose to become.”
Our aims
To relieve the distress of anyone within the Gloucestershire area who has experienced any form of sexual violence.
To educate the public about the nature of sexual violence and its repercussions.
Anti-Racism Policy
GRASAC is working towards demonstrating its commitment to anti-racism by explicitly becoming an anti-racist employer, charitable organisation and service provider. We believe in a fully inclusive service, with anti-racist practices throughout our organisation. We know that Black and minoritised women continue to be disadvantaged and harmed by traditional white supremacist beliefs. We are committed to developing throughout 2024, and beyond, an organisation that believes and demonstrates an intersectional approach for all women and girls, through our policies, procedures, and training of all staff and volunteers.
How GRASAC started…
Founded in 1984, by a group of women volunteers determined to support fellow women and girls in Gloucestershire who had experienced rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse. In 2014 Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre became a registered charity.
In 2024 we celebrate 40 years of empowering and supporting women and girls who have experienced rape and sexual abuse – at any time in their lives.
We continue to benefit from and depend on the support of our volunteers. As the only service dedicated to the aid and support of sexual violence survivors in the Gloucestershire area, of all genders, GRASAC has grown considerably in response to the growing need, for women and girls in particular.
Come back soon to see how our journey has evolved, and how we got to where we are today!
Get help
We recognise that reporting to the Police something that has happened without your consent, can feel intimidating and overwhelming.
Click the button relevant to your age group so we can direct you to the correct service for your situation and put you on the right path.
