A report commissioned by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, has revealed young people feel they are not getting the support they need from the NHS-run Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

56 victims and survivors of child sexual abuse between the ages of 11 and 21 were surveyed for the report, alongside 77 specialist child sexual abuse support workers. The overwhelming majority of survivors shared negative experiences of their involvement with CAMHS. 

It was found most CAMHS services did not understand the impact of child sexual abuse on a child’s emotional and mental health, and several young victims and survivors reported that the service would only see them if they were suicidal.

Other concerns raised included poor management of privacy and confidentiality concerns by the police, which, in some cases, resulted in retaliation from the abuser and their family.

The report also found that relationship and sex education in schools is largely inadequate, with some children not receiving any lessons at all. For those schools where lessons were taught, the scope and quality of materials was found to be poor, with little or no information on child sexual abuse. 

To read the full report, visit the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse website.

Could you help Surrey Police improve safety for women across the borough?

Recent events have highlighted concerns women may feel about personal safety in their day-to-day lives. To address this, Surrey Police are conducting a survey to capture women’s thoughts and feelings on safety in Surrey.

Results from the survey will be analysed and, along with the Police and Crime Commissioner and partners, work will be undertaken to address any concerns raised.

Visit the Call It Out survey page to have your say, and help improve safety for women across Surrey.

A plucky helpline volunteer is taking on the Vitality Big Half on Sunday, 22 August for RASASC.

26-year-old Stephanie Small from Liphook, is taking on her first ever half marathon in aid of RASASC, supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

Stephanie said:

“I’ve never been particularly sporty or athletic. Cross country or any type of running was my worst nightmare at school, so this is entirely out of my comfort zone, It’s going to be a real challenge!

“I started running in lockdown after the gyms closed and found it wasn’t so bad after all! When the opportunity arose to run for RASASC I signed up before I could change my mind. I still have a long way to go, but training is going well, and I really hope I do RASASC proud.

“Raising money for such an important cause is what will really motivate me to make it round on the day.”

Events Coordinator Stephanie chose to run for RASASC due to her experience volunteering on the charity’s confidential helpline, which has highlighted the importance of services – such as those provided by RASASC – for survivors.

RASASC’s helpline for survivors of rape and sexual abuse and their families, is a confidential service offering support, advice and signposting. The helpline is staffed by specially trained volunteers like Stephanie, and operates four evenings a week, Monday – Thursday from 7.30pm – 9.30pm on 01483 546400.

To sponsor Stephanie’s fantastic efforts for RASASC, visit her fundraising page.

RASASC has welcomed the report into the Government’s review addressing the dramatic drop in rape prosecutions. While we acknowledge the reviews findings that the needs of victims of rape and sexual assault are not being met, there is still an awful lot to be done to address failings in the way survivors are treated by the criminal justice system.

Since 2016, rape prosecutions are at a historic low – falling by nearly 60% in four years – despite the number of rapes being reported having doubled.

According to figures in the review, there are around 128,000 victims of rape and attempted rape each year. Fewer than 20% of these incidents are reported to the police, and just 1.6% of these rapes and sexual assaults result in someone being charged.

In the review’s foreword, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Attorney General Michael Ellis, apologised for the treatment of rape victims, saying:

“The vast majority of victims do not see the crime against them charged and reach a court – one in two victims withdraw from rape investigations.

“These are trends of which we are deeply ashamed, …. victims of rape are being failed.”

The review outlines plans for reform, including shifting the focus of investigations from the victim’s credibility to the perpetrator, and putting greater emphasis on understanding a suspect’s behaviour.

RASASC Chief Executive Officer Lesley Devonport said:

“While we welcome this review, the culture of victim blaming and discrediting victims has been allowed to continue for too long. Rape and sexual assaults are deeply traumatic crimes, and people react in a number of different ways to intense trauma – this can include seeming upbeat or being in denial. Reactions such as these should in no way be taken as a sign that the rape or assault did not occur.

“RASASC supports all survivors of rape and sexual assault over the age of 13 across Surrey. We will support you whether you choose to report to the police or not, or whether the incident happened last week or many, many years ago.

“I would urge survivors who need our services to reach out if they are able to. All of our services are free and non-judgemental. We are here for you, and we believe you.”

To find out more about the services we provide, visit our website.

This week is Small Charity Week, and RASASC are taking part in the Small Charity Week Challenge.

From today until Wednesday 23 June, any donations to RASASC through our Localgiving page will count towards the Small Charity Week Challenge leader board. Charities that make it to the top 20 on the leader board, will each be awarded prizes.

Could you help us make our way onto the leader board? Your donation could be used towards:

• Supporting our confidential helpline. The helpline, open four nights a week and staffed by specially trained volunteers, offers support, advice and signposting for survivors of rape and sexual abuse and their families.
•  Our counselling services, supporting adults, young people (aged 13-17) and families of survivors.
• Supporting the work of our Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs). ISVAs work directly with survivors of rape and sexual abuse, offering emotional and practical advice to help survivors make decisions that are right for them.

Donating as part of the Small Charity Week Challenge is easy, just visit our Localgiving page and donate! All individual donations between 17 – 23 June will count towards our leader board total.

Thank you to all of our supporters for supporting our work, ensuring we can continue to be there for survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

A recent Ofsted report has revealed sexual harassment among young people is endemic in UK schools.

Increasingly normalised, students don’t see the point of reporting abuse and many teachers underestimate the scale of the problem.

Among the findings, the report shows that young girls are being increasingly pressured into sending nude pictures, with offenders creating multiple accounts in order to continue the harassment if they are blocked.

These findings highlight the need for urgent support for both teachers and students to address inappropriate behaviour, consent and respectful relationships.

At RASASC, we provide free presentations and workshops across Surrey for both teachers and students (over the age of 13), covering the issues of rape and sexual abuse, understanding of consent, healthy relationships, legal implications of sharing indecent images and the support survivors can access.

Delivered by way of a presentation to groups of young people (over the age of 13) and/or school staff across Surrey, it gives staff and students a safe space to raise any concerns they may have.

For more information and to register interest for our schools programme, please contact: chloe.isva@rasasc-guildford.org.

RASASC also offer other free support services for survivors of rape and sexual abuse and their families, including:

An Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service – ISVAs provide emotional and practical advice and support for people who have experienced rape, sexual abuse or any other type of sexual violence, at any time in their lives.

Counselling – A youth service (for those aged between 13-17) and family support service to help families support the survivor as well as understanding their own thoughts and feelings.

A national helpline – A free, confidential helpline, providing information and support to survivors, their friends and family. Available four days a week, Monday – Thursday from 7.30pm – 9.30pm.

For more information on who we are and what we do, visit our website.

Recent research carried out for Mankind UK reveals that 50% of UK males have had an unwanted sexual experience.

The research also showed that 10% have had sexual images shared without their consent, and 21% took part in sexual activity with an adult while under the legal age of consent.

At RASASC, we support anyone in the Surrey area over the age of 13 who has been subjected to rape or sexual abuse, however you may identify. You can read more about what we do and get in touch with us through our website.

More detail on the research carried out for Mankind UK can be found on The Guardian’s website. *Please note, the article contains details that some may find triggering*

We’d like to say a huge thank you to all of our supporters, partners and volunteers for their ongoing commitment and support through this challenging and unprecedented year.

While no one could have foreseen the challenges we, and many others would have to face, we were able to continue our vital work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse by adapting our services to work remotely.

If you need us over Christmas and New Year, we’re still here. Our helpline is open as usual from Monday – Wednesday between 7.30pm – 9.30pm.

Our office team won’t be working on Christmas Day, Boxing Day bank holiday (Monday, 28 December) and New Year’s Day but we are here as normal outside of this. If you need help and support, please visit the get support page on our website to find out how to get in touch.

With many thanks from all at RASASC.

If you need us over the Christmas period, we are here for you. Our free, confidential helpline is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 7.30pm – 9.30pm as normal over Christmas and New Year.

We are open on:

• Monday 21 December, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
• Tuesday 22 December, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
• Wednesday 23 December, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
• Monday 28 December, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
• Tuesday 29 December, 7.30pm – 9.30pm
• Wednesday 30 December, 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Our free helpline provides information and emotional support to both survivors of rape or sexual abuse, and those supporting a survivor.

If you need to talk, we are here to listen to you. You can contact us on 01483 546400.

One of the challenges RASASC is currently facing is securing suitable premises for us to deliver our vital services. Our current office space doesn’t meet accessibility or suitability standards, and since the onset of COVID-19 we have the added issue of not having enough office space to adequately social distance. For these reasons we are on the search for something better.

To help us secure new office space, we have applied for funding from Your Fund Surrey to enable us to find a new home, and we need your help.

We need as many people as possible to like and share our bid, to help it get noticed! Visit: bit.ly/RASASCbid and scroll to the bottom of the page where there are options to like, share and comment.

By liking and sharing with friends and family, you could help us get one step closer to securing the funding we need to find a new home, to ensure we can continue to support survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.