Accessing support
Support is free and confidential
- Confidentiality
- Anything that you talk to us about is confidential and will not be shared with anyone else without your permission. There are three reasons when we have to (legally) break confidentiality, but we will discuss this with you first. These are:
- If you tell us that a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm
- When there is a serious risk of harm to you
- When there is a court order or other legal requirements to do so
- Get in touch if you have any questions about this. Our helpline and email support is completely anonymous.
Any sexual activity that you did not want can bring about physical, emotional and behavioural changes. This is normal. These feelings can affect you, your day-to-day life, and friends and family around you.
- We are here to help you deal with the impact of what you have been through.
- We will support you if the assault happened recently, or whether it happened many years ago.
- We will support you if you were abused as a child or assaulted as an adult.
- You do not have to have informed the Police, or anyone else. If you want to make a report to the Police, we will guide you through it.
To contact us for support, simply email support@glosrasac.org.uk or call our helpline on 01452 526770.
“No matter what happened to you, or how you reacted, you did not make it happen, it is not your fault. The attacker or abuser was to blame”
If you have experienced rape, sexual assault or abuse very recently, and wish to report the crime, contact the Police (dial 999 in an emergency or 101 if you are not in immediate danger) or Hope House Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0300 421 8400.
They will listen to you, take evidence and guide you through the initial legal process. Physical evidence can be gathered within 7 days of the offence.
More Support Information
Referral
Emotional Support Referral
If you would like to self refer for emotional support with one of our specialist support workers please contact us directly.
via email: – info@glosrasac.org.uk
via telephone: – admin line 01452 305421 or helpline 01452 526770
ISVA Service Referral
If you would like to self refer/refer someone else for support to our ISVA service please complete the below form which can be sent to us:
via email: -ISVAreferral@glosrasac.org.uk (please note our email is not secure, we recommend sending referrals via egress)
via post: – PO Box 16, Gloucester,GL4 0RU
Alternatively you can call our admin line 01452 305421 or helpline 01452 526770 to refer yourself.
Supporting you
Trained support workers listen and believe what you say. They help you focus on a better future and can offer advice, guidance and signpost you to other organisations that may help. We offer advice if you want to report an incident to the police, and guide you through the legal process.
Telephone helpline
Call 01452 526770
Our helpline is accessible to women and girls who have experienced sexual violence. Family members and friends can also use our helpline.
Our helpline is open Monday 12.00pm – 2.00pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 6.30pm – 8.30pm
There is a confidential out-of-hours answerphone. If you leave a message we’ll call you back within 24 hours during the week.
There may be occasions when we are unable to operate our helpline. Other helpline are available and information can be found by clicking the following link Other organisations who may be helpful to you
Accessing support for the first time
At first, talking about your experiences can be a difficult thing to do. Around half the calls to our helpline (01452 526770) are silent – don’t worry if it takes a while for you to want to speak, we’ll listen when you do. You don’t have to tell us your name. Our phone system masks your number so you can choose to talk anonymously.
You can also contact us, and get support by email support@glosrasac.org.uk. Our email software hides your email address so we won’t know who you are until you choose to tell us, or not!
Email support service
(Please note this email is for emotional support, for referrals or referral enquiries please contact us via info@glosrasac.org.uk
support@glosrasac.org.uk
Our anonymous email service is good if you feel unable to talk about your experience, fears and feelings; if you are hearing impaired, or if it’s more convenient for you to get support through writing.
You might find that email and/or phone conversations are the best way for you to move forward. You can also choose to be supported through one-to-one therapeutic support and group activities where you can meet other survivors and access our self-help guides.
One-to-one therapeutic support
Therapeutic support offers you the space, and time, to talk through your thoughts, feelings, and options with a specialist support worker. GRASAC offers upto 24 sessions of 1:1 support. Many survivors decide to continue support through our Open Group activities (see below). We can meet you at our centre in central Gloucester, or at a safe and convenient location elsewhere. We’re happy to give one-to-one dedicated support by telephone too.
Open group activities
It can be really useful to meet others who have gone through what you have. Our group activities programme for survivors gives you the chance to do that. You don’t have to have received support from our helpline volunteers or specialist support workers to attend.
If you aren’t currently accessing support from us we will need to take a brief referral before you attend any of our groups. You can do this by calling us on our admin line 01452 305421, and let us know which group you would like to join.
Our groups run on a booking system. To book your place on any of our groups please call us on our admin line 01452 305421. If you would like to attend a group regularly we can automatically book you in, you then only need to contact us if you are unable to the group.
We post the dates of group meetings on Facebook and Twitter. Find us on both by searching for @glosrasac.
Friendship Group
Run by volunteers, the group offers an opportunity to meet friendly, understanding people, and to forge friendships. We run these groups in the following locations: –
Gloucester. Held the second Tuesday of every month 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cheltenham. Held the fourth Monday of every month 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Stroud. Held the third Wednesday of every month 10.00am – 12.00pm
Tewkesbury. Held the second Wednesday of every month 6.30pm -8.30pm
Forest of Dean. Held the last Thursday of every month 10.30am – 12.00pm
For any further information and to book a place please call our admin line 01452 305421
Gloucester Family Group
The Family and Friends Group is for anyone who is supporting someone who has been affected by sexual violence. GRASAC recognises that family /friends can be crucial to a survivor’s healing journey, but it can affect their own health and wellbeing.
This is not a therapy or support group but a safe confidential space where friends, parents, carers, family and partners who are supporting survivors of sexual violence and abuse can meet to:
• Ask questions
• 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 behaviours.
It is held on the second Wednesday of the month at our offices in central Gloucester. It is open from 18.30- 20.30
The first half of the session provides useful information and then we offer a private
10-15-minute appointment for attendees.
If you would like to attend please book by calling our office on 01452 305421 we will take a few details such as name address and telephone number.
We need these details so that we can let you know of any changes or cancellations
Arts and Crafts Group for Over 55s
Our Arts and Crafts group is held at our centre in Gloucester on the second Wednesday of the month.
For any further information and to book a place please call our admin line 01452 305421
Hope and Cope
Hope and Cope is a new Programme that we are offering to clients that are on our waiting list.
This course is for survivors of rape or sexual abuse who want to understand and process their own personal reactions to their experience. This can include how they think, how they feel, how they behave and how they see the world.
Exploring these common reactions and feelings can be the first step towards understanding yourself and your reactions.
These sessions give you the tools to feel safer, stronger and more in control, through providing information, understanding and finding healthy ways of coping. Each session will provide some practical tools or techniques that participants can take away.
The Hope and Cope Programme has 4 sessions
The sessions are delivered fortnightly.
They take place on an agreed weekday from 10.30 -1.00
We take a maximum of 10 women per round
If you would like more information please contact the office
Email: info@glosrasac.org.uk
Telephone: 01452 305421
Drama Play Reading
The aim of this group is to build confidence and boost self-esteem.
Our Drama Play Reading group is held on the first Tuesday of every month 12.00pm – 13.30pm
For any further information and to book a place please call our admin line 01452 305421
We continually review our groups to increase the range of activities and venues across the county so that women in rural areas have access to this support: please contact us if you would like to know more
Advice and advocacy
We will tell you about your options and guide you through the criminal justice system if you wish to report your experience to the Police.
We can also help you connect with other organisations with specialist expertise that can help your particular circumstances. Also see our resources and guides
For anyone who has experienced rape, sexual assault or abuse very recently, and wishes to report the crime, contact the Police (dial 999 in an emergency or 101 if you are not in immediate danger) or Hope House Sexual Assault Referral Centre. They will listen to you, take evidence and guide you through the inital legal process. Physical evidence can be gathered within 7 days of the offence
Self-care Resources and guides
We’re happy to post a printed copy of our self-help guide to you if you email us at info@glosrasac.org.uk with your postal address.
If you have experienced rape, sexual assault or abuse very recently, and wish to report the crime, contact the Police (dial 999 in an emergency or 101 if you are not in immediate danger) or Hope House Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0300 421 8400.
They will listen to you, take evidence and guide you through the initial legal process. Physical evidence can be gathered within 7 days of the offence.
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) can support anyone who lives in Gloucestershire and has experienced sexual violence, irrespective of age, gender and background. The ISVA will be sensitive to your needs and will help you to make informed choices.
Our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) offers a free and confidential specialist service providing practical help and emotional support to anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted at any time in their lives.
Sometimes it can be difficult to talk to your family, friends or partner about what has happened to you or you may not have told anyone at all. The Independent Sexual Violence Advisor can provide the opportunity to talk in a safe and confidential environment. The ISVA service is about helping you to make informed choices, not about telling you what to do.
The ISVA can support you in a number of ways:
- To help you decide if you wish to report to the police and give you information about the legal process and your rights
- Liaise with the police and prosecution service on your behalf and advocate when needed.
- Support you from report through to court
- Identify what other support you may need and help you get other specialist support, e.g. counselling, mental health support, sexual health, substance and alcohol misuse
What to expect:
- The ISVA will contact you and arrange to meet with you if you wish
- You will not be expected to talk about what’s happened. The ISVA will be aware of this and will focus on supporting you through this difficult time.
How you can access the ISVA service:
You can ask for a referral to the service from the Police, NHS or any other agency.
Or, you can self-refer by calling us on 01452 305 421
Talk to us
PO Box 16, Gloucester, GL4 0RU
General enquiries: 01452 305421 or email info@glosrasac.org.uk
Helpline: 01452 526770 or email support@glosrasac.org.uk