24/7 support line:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

0808 500 2222

Admin line & email:

01452 305421
info@glosrasac.org.uk

24/7 support line:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

0808 500 2222

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How to hide your tracks

Our services

Emotional Support
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)
Anonymous Email Support
Groups

“I am not what happened to me,
I am who I choose to become.”

Emotional Support

Our emotional support service offers a confidential and non-judgemental environment to talk through your thoughts, feelings, and any options available to you. Working alongside a specialist support worker you are able to explore what has happened and begin your healing journey.

Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) offer a 20-week one-to-one support programme to anyone in Gloucestershire aged 13+ who has experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives. These sessions can be face-to-face, over the telephone or online.

Aged 18+ years:

For those aged 18 and over we accept only self-referrals to this service. If you would like to self-refer for emotional support with one of our specialist support workers, please contact us directly on 01452 305421 or info@glosrasac.org.uk

Aged 13-17 years:

Self-referrals are accepted but parents and professionals can also refer young people to our emotional support service by calling 01452 305421 or by using the form below.

GRASAC aims to contact clients within 24 hours (during working week) from the time of referral.

Children can be referred to our emotional support service using the form below:

Child (13-17) Emotional Support Referral Form

Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)

An Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) can provide practical and emotional support for anyone currently accessing, or considering reporting, an incident to the criminal justice system.

    Supporting anyone in Gloucestershire who has experienced sexual violence at any point in their lives, an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) can support you in a number of ways:

      To help you decide if you wish to report to the police and supply you with information about the legal process and your rights.

      Liaise with the police and prosecution service on your behalf and advocate as and when is required.

      Support you from report through to court.

      Identify your needs and provide support by helping you access specialist support as required, e.g. counselling, mental health support, sexual health, housing need and substance and alcohol misuse.

      If you would like to self-refer or you are a professional who would like to refer someone for support with an ISVA, please download and complete the referral form below.

      GRASAC aims to contact clients within 24 hours (during working week) from the time of referral.

      Adult ISVA Referral Form
      Under 18 ISVA Referral Form

      Anonymous Email Support

      Because we understand that sometimes it is difficult to talk on the telephone, GRASAC offer an anonymous email service, giving you the opportunity to share your experiences, thoughts, feelings and concerns in writing.

      Our specialist team will reply to your email within 5 working days, offering you the space and support to feel heard.

      Please email us at support@glosrasac.org.uk for anonymous support. For confidentiality reasons, any referrals sent to this address will be deleted.

      For more urgent support please call Rape Crisis England & Wales on the below helpline:

      24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line
      0808 500 2222 

      Groups

      Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre offer a variety of support groups, helping to empower and increase confidence in users while connecting them to like-minded people.

      For further information and for a group referral please email us: info@glosrasac.org.uk or call us on 01452 305421

      GRASAC aims to contact clients within 24 hours (during working week) from the time of referral.

      Friendship Group

      Hosted by volunteers, the group offers an opportunity to meet friendly, understanding people, and to forge friendships.

      Friendship groups are currently held once a month.

      • Cheltenham friendship group runs on a Monday evening 6.30pm – 8.30pm.
      • Stroud friendship group runs on a Wednesday morning 10am – 12pm.

      For further information and for a group referral please email us: info@glosrasac.org.uk or call us on 01452 305421
      Phoenix Group

      Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) invites young women aged 14 to 16, who have been affected by sexual violence to join Phoenix.

      This is an opportunity for you to:

      • Feel empowered.
      • Increase confidence and self-esteem in everyday life.
      • Explore current topics such as healthy relationships and social media.
      • Develop positive coping strategies.
      • Get involved in women’s and girls’ rights.
      • Not feel alone and form friendships.

      GRASAC recognises that family can be crucial to a survivor’s healing journey, but it can affect their own health and well-being. Therefore, alongside Phoenix, we will be offering an informal, confidential safe space for the family of the young person attending.

      This is an opportunity for families to share a cuppa and:

      • Ask questions and seek support from a member of the GRASAC Team.
      • Understand how being a victim of sexual violence can impact on an individual.
      • Discover how they can best support the person they care for, whilst also looking after themselves.
      • Have a 1-1 meeting with a member of staff. We don’t discuss our clients, but we will support you to better understand and manage emotions.
      Power Programme
      Programme Of Women’s
      Empowerment & Recovery

      About the Course

      The course runs for 14 weeks and is provided to women who have experienced sexual abuse/violence and have already accessed our emotional support service.

      The course aims to help you:

      • Reduce isolation.
      • Reduce levels of shame and self-blame.
      • Identify triggers and develop healthy coping strategies.
      • Increase your knowledge of your personal rights and boundaries.
      • Explore sexuality, intimacy and trust.
      • Understand feelings such as grief and anger.
      • Learn assertiveness skills.
      • To feel empowered and in control of your own life.

      We provide an environment that enables you to:

      • Feel safe and secure.
      • Realise the extent of your abuse and deal with the emotions that come with this realisation.
      • Feel ready to move on.
      • Develop a more positive outlook for the future.
      • Gain self-worth, respect, confidence and self-esteem. 

      Areas Covered by the Course

      • Your bill of rights.
      • Understanding the impact of sexual abuse.
      • The healing process and preparing for change.
      • Identifying triggers.
      • Coping strategies and honouring what you did to survive.
      • Forgiveness and letting go of self-blame and shame.
      • Grieving and mourning your losses.
      • Anger: the backbone of healing.
      • Setting boundaries and ending old patterns. 
      • Sexuality, intimate relationships and trust.
      • Assertiveness skills and practice.
      • Letting go and moving forward.
      • Celebrating change.

      If you are interested in taking part in our POWER Programme, please contact our admin line:
      01452 305421 or email: info@glosrasac.org.uk  

      “The ladies were amazing, supportive, relatable, informative, helpful, genuine. It didn’t feel like they were just reading the programme and going through the motions. They were part of the group, wouldn’t have been the same without them.”
      “Never been a fan of the group thing but being put with other survivors is imperative to healing – it breaks down the isolation of being a rape survivor.”