Support Services for Men
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.
Talk to us
PO Box 16, Gloucester, GL4 0RU
General enquiries: 01452 305421 or email info@glosrasac.org.uk
Helpline: 01452 526770Â or email support@glosrasac.org.uk
More Support Information
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 rightsLiaise 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 get 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
Other Support Services
GRASAC works in partnership with Gloucestershire Counselling Services to provide counselling sessions for male victims of sexual violence. To make a referral please visit their website https://www.gloscounselling.org.uk/ and complete an online referral. Alternatively you can call them on 01453 766310.
Hope House Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) offers practical advice for individuals who have recently experienced sexual violence. The service includes confidential medical assessment, a change of clothing, a forensic medical examination to collect evidence. More information can be found on their website: https://www.hopehousesarc.nhs.uk/ . Alternatively a crisis worker can be contacted 24/7 via telephone on 0300 421 8400
There is the national organisation specifically for male victims called Survivors UK https://www.survivorsuk.org/ which has a range of support options that you can access including a helpline, online chat, SMS and whatsapp.
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: –Â info@glosrasac.org.uk Â
via telephone: –Â 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 five days a week: Monday and Thursday 12:00 pm-2:00 pm and Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. There is a confidential out-of-hours answerphone. If you leave a message we’ll call you back within 24 hours during the week.
Male survivors can access support from survivors uk. https://www.survivorsuk.org/ways-we-can-help/online-helpline/
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!