rasascguildfordfinal11913351e9dabf53b7696b5e7e50755b

2026 Victims Survey now open

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:39:18 GMT

The 2026 Victims Survey is now open to anyone aged 16+ who has been affected by crime since January 2021, regardless of whether you reported to the police or not.

It is the only national, independent survey that gathers insights directly from victims across all crime types and stages of the justice process.

The survey is completely anonymous and takes around 15 minutes to complete. Taking part in the survey helps the Victims’ Commissioner understand what is working, where improvements are needed, and helps to shape the recommendations she makes to improve outcomes for victims.

The survey is available in both English or Welsh , and is open from 8 April to 6 May 2026.

For more information, visit the Victims Commissioner's website.

RASASC recognised in High Sheriff Awards

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:47:33 GMT

We were delighted to be recognised in the recent High Sheriff Awards. Our Fundraising Manager Helen and Trustee Helen Price went along to the ceremony and presentation to receive the award on behalf of RASASC.

The High Sheriff and his wife came to visit RASASC in November 2025, and spent time meeting staff and volunteers, and learning about the work we do as well as the challenges we face. The High Sheriff is generously supporting the work of our Youth Counselling service which supports young survivors aged between 13-19.

Thank you so much to the High Sheriff for recognising RASASC and supporting our work. This award will help us reach more people by raising our profile and giving us a platform to have honest conversations about rape and sexual abuse. This, in turn, will ensure anyone reaching out for help can do so free of fear, shame or stigma.

Thank you for all of your support in 2025!

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:44:42 GMT

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

Some of our key achievements in 2025 include:

Supporting over 1,000 survivors through our counselling, ISVA and Support Line services.

Securing £44,962 from South Western Railway to fund our ISVA outreach work, plus the opportunity to have our messaging taken county-wide through the SWR network.

In April, our team of 10 runners in the London Landmarks Half Marathon raised a fantastic £7,200 between them.

Speaking to over 450 secondary school pupils across Surrey in bespoke workshops and assemblies.

Talented supporter Susanne , who sold her hand painted shells for RASASC, raising over £1,000.

Getting our messages out through delivering talks to the WI, Bupa, Surrey Police, Soroptimists Surrey Hills and the NHS.

Incredible supporter Felicity who shaved her head and raised over £520.

Meeting and chatting to students at Godalming College, The University of Surrey, UCA Farnham and Brooklands College, among others.

Having stands at lots of events including: Pride in Surrey , The Surrey Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls Conference, Godalming Safety Fair , and the High Sheriff Youth Awards Garden Party .

Having a presence at the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) roundtable discussion hosted by MP Helen Maguire in September.

£60,000 funding from Waverly Borough Council over three years to support ISVA work in Waverly.

Hosting visits by the High Sheriff of Surrey , The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey , the Lord Lieutenant for Surrey, Zoe Franklin, MP for Guildford , and Helen Maguire, MP for Epsom and Ewell.

Amazing supporter Maggie, who was due to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon for us but had to pull out due to injury – them went on to complete the Boston Marathon for RASASC instead!

£5,000 from The Community Foundation for Surrey towards our rent.

Joining the Act on IICSA event at the Houses of Parliament to highlight the lack of action since the final report from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) report was published in 2022.

Fabulous supporters Clare and Liz who took on Swim Serpentine, raising £1,124.

Our ongoing #ThisWorks Christmas Campaign , highlighting the transformative effect RASASC’s support has on the survivors we work with.

Rounding off the year with coverage on the BBC and an interview on BBC Radio Surrey with our CEO Daisy and survivor Elle, to highlight the services we provide.

What an incredible year!

We are always humbled and grateful at the lengths supporters go to to raise money to support our life-changing work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

Whether you took on an event , made a donation , gave to our Christmas Appeal or supported our work through volunteering , none of this would be possible without your support. Thank you so much.

Support available over Christmas

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:07:05 GMT

We know the festive period isn't an easy time for everyone. If you are struggling and need support over Christmas, there are several services that can help:

The national Sexual Abuse Support Line is open 24 hours a day seven days a week. Call them on 0808 500 2222 or visit the link to start an online chat.

The Samaritans are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call them free on 116 123.

Mind have some tips and advice for the Christmas period for those struggling with their mental health and the pressures of Christmas.

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) have some tips of how to get through Christmas if you’re feeling anxious , as well as a helpline that's open 365 days a year from 5pm - midnight - 0800 58 58 58.

Safe Havens offer out of hours mental health help and support for people experiencing a mental health crisis. There are five centres across Surrey in Aldershot, Epsom, Guildford, Redhill and Woking which are open 6-11pm, 365 days a year. Each centre also offers a virtual Safe Haven service so you can access support without leaving home. (scroll down the page to the virtual safe havens section for the link to your nearest virtual centre).

The RASASC self help guides on our website offer tips and advice to help with flashbacks, grounding, nightmares and panic attacks.

Visit o ur Linktree to find links to lots of useful services and information for all ages and genders.

However you choose to spend this time of year, please reach out for support if you need it, you are not alone

Response to scrapping of PCCs in England and Wales

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 11:28:22 GMT

We were saddened to learn of the plans to abolish the role of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales.

RASASC has been fortunate enough to have a very supportive relationship with the Surrey PCC, Lisa Townsend and her office, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the clients we work with.

Chief Executive Officer Daisy Anderson said: “Without the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, Lisa Townsend and her amazing team, RASASC Guildford would have really struggled this year.

“While we can’t speak for other areas, our PCC has a sophisticated understanding of the role RASASC Guildford plays in supporting policing in Surrey, and she and her team have been brilliant in protecting vital services such as ours across the county that would have been far worse off without her support.

“It is regrettable, therefore, to read the sweeping, generalised description of the introduction of the Police and Crime Commissioners as a “failed experiment.” This does not recognise those instances where these partnerships have worked extremely well and where the individuals involved have gone above and beyond.

“For this reason, at RASASC Guildford, we consider the role and the support they provide a tremendous success.”

Meet our Trustees this Trustees' Week

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:00:01 GMT

A huge thank you to all of our hardworking trustees this Trustees' Week !

Our trustees volunteer their time, knowledge and expertise to support and expand our work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

What does a trustee do?

Trustees are volunteers who offer their time and knowledge, sharing responsibility for governing a charity and directing how it is managed and run.

They can offer support in terms of connections, sharing and endorsing the charity’s work in articles and posts as well as attending board meetings and overseeing decision-making.

Charity trustees have six main functions:

Ensuring the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit.
Complying with the charity's governing document and the law.
Acting in the charity's best interests.
Managing charity resources responsibly.
Acting with reasonable care and skill.
Ensuring the charity is accountable.

Meet our trustees!

At RASASC Guildford, we have eight trustees who bring a variety of skills to our board:

Kevin Young is our Chair and Treasurer. Kevin is a retired Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years’ experience in senior finance roles. He is using his skills to support local charities.

Caroline Deane worked as a palliative and frailty care nurse in the NHS for many years, before taking on her current role at a hospice in Cambridge.

Susan Forda is a trained pharmacist, who worked for Eli Lilly for 26 years, becoming Managing Director of the Eli Lilly UK Research and Development site. Susan was previously a trustee of the Eli Lilly Pension Fund.

Helen Price has been involved with RASASC for over 20 years, volunteering as a speaker, helping with fundraising events, a helpline volunteer, a counsellor and most recently providing our friends and family support service.

Liz Perera is a HR professional with over 20 years’ experience and she is passionate about diversity and ensuring equity and inclusion for all. Liz was introduced to RASASC through a fellow trustee.

Sian Felstead is an experienced Programme Manager with over 20 years’ experience in delivering financial services transformation projects across both IT and business across the world.

Marion Brown is a former police officer and Independent Domestic & Sexual Violence Advisor. She brings a wealth of experience in safeguarding and the criminal justice system.

Ben Sutcliffe is a comms and PR professional, having been a senior journalist for national television news organisations for over 15 years. More recently he has moved into PR for a technology company.

We are so grateful to all our trustees for their ongoing support. Read more about all of them on our Trustees page .

To find out more about the role of a charity trustee and what they do, visit GOV.UK .

RASASC at VAWG roundtable discussion

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:29:33 GMT

Our Chief Executive Officer Daisy was delighted to be invited to take part in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) roundtable discussion hosted by MP Helen Maguire.

The day brought together representatives from many services across the county including schools, police, sexual abuse, domestic abuse and women’s groups to share insights and information on what can be done to progress the VAWG agenda.

RASASC CEO Daisy Anderson said: “RASASC was delighted to be able to input into this important discussion, and I am very grateful to MP Helen Maguire for hosting and facilitating a progressive, intelligent and proactive roundtable debate.

“What was evident, is that there are a myriad of complexities and barriers faced by services across the borough in supporting our community. Services like ours across the sector are facing a funding crisis which has resulted in closures for some.

“If we are to be able to tackle these crucial issues like the VAWG crisis, then we need the resources to enable us to do that. Conversations such as this and the connections they offer are a vital stepping stone in ensuring we can be there for the survivors that need us."

Victims of child sexual abuse to be included in new VAWG strategy

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:09:58 GMT

We’re pleased with the news that children who have experienced child sexual abuse and exploitation are now to be considered in the new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy, as announced by MP Jess Phillips.

The new VAWG strategy was due to be published in the summer, but has now been pushed back towards the end of 2025. We will have to wait until the final strategy is released to see the impact it will have for those concerned.

RASASC was part of a large contingent of signatories on an open letter to the Home Secretary, requesting that victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation be included within the VAWG strategy. We are delighted that this action has had a positive impact.

Following several delays and a degree of mystery surrounding what will be in the final version, we sincerely hope that the completed VAWG strategy has heeded the advice and recommendations from experts, to deliver an effective and fully resourced plan of action.

Clare takes on Swim Serpentine for RASASC

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 08:35:23 GMT

Supporter Clare lets us know why she's decided to take on Swim Serpentine for RASASC!

Clare is taking on the challenge of Swim Serpentine along with her friend Liz on 20 September. We caught up with her to find out why she decided to take on this challenge for RASASC:

Have you ever done anything like this before or taken on an open water swim?

My first medium distance was last year, I swam 4km at the Wild Swimming Festival and I was hooked!

How is training going, do you feel ready for the big day?

I've been training hard. Strength work and two hours in the pool every Sunday plus a 40 minute sea swim once a week in preparation.

Do you have a plan for the event or a time/goal you would like to achieve?

Hahaha...my goal is to always to finish strong but most importantly, with a smile on my face!

Why did you decide to do Swim Serpentine for RASASC?

A charity that plays such an important role of support for such a traumatic situation, deserves to have funds raised for it. RASASC is a key cornerstone of support for so many victims whose lives can be shattered. It's amazing what you do!!!

Will you have anyone supporting you on the day?

Yes. I am swimming with my good friend Liz ( who is also fundraising for RASASC ) and I'll have good friends and family there too.

How is fundraising going?

Its going well so far, I hope I can reach a £300 target. I am very close!

Thank you so much Clare for taking on this incredible challenge for us, and good luck! You can make a donation to Clare's swim through her fundraising page .

Join the conversation on IICSA progress

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:17:01 GMT

Join the webinar on 19 June to find out progress on the The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA)

Following the Spending Review on 11th June, Act on IICSA, featuring Professor Alexis Jay CBE, John O’Brien CBE, Fay Maxted OBE, David Greenwood, and Lucy Duckworth, will host a hybrid webinar to explore the current status of the government’s response to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

By joining the webinar, you can be part of this important conversation to make sure the recommendations for protecting children from child sexual abuse are put into action in the right way.

Whether you are already in the sector or want to learn more about this complex issue, please support Act on IICSA to create real, lasting change.

The webinar will be held on Thursday 19th June, from 10:30am - 11:30am. To register visit The Survivors Trust website

If you are local to Leeds and would like to attend in person, you can do so by emailing actoniicsa@thesurvivorstrust.org

Join in to be part of the conversation on how to ensure IICSA's legacy leads to real and lasting change.

Meet our London Landmarks team!

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 14:00:45 GMT

We have 10 amazing runners taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon for RASASC on 6 April! Meet them here

Georgia Sponsor me!

"I’ve never really done any proper running until this, but I’ve always done loads of sport and fancied a different physical challenge!

Unfortunately, I’ve been really unlucky with lots of illness this year which has had a big impact on my training, so I’m not as ready as I’d like to be, but I’ve been sticking to shorter 5ks in the week and long runs once a week when I can. Sometimes that doesn’t happen, but that’s not going to stop me from giving it my all!

I’d love to complete the run in under 3 hours but to be honest, getting to the finish line has always been the goal. I’ve found running to be far more difficult than I expected. I can’t wait to be able to prove myself wrong, when I started I had little hope but now I’ve hit running double digits which always seemed impossible.

I’ll have the support of my parents, my boyfriend and his family, and some friends on the day which is absolutely amazing. I will definitely need some familiar faces to keep me motivated!

I have been a victim of sexual abuse at various stages of my life including childhood and can first hand say how important having the right support can be. It can impact you everyday and it is vital that charities like RASASC are brought to light more so people know that there is always someone there to help. It is a tough journey but there is always light and you are never alone! Raising awareness for such an important cause is all that really matters to me."

Jess Sponsor me!

"This will be the third year in a row that I’ve run the London Landmarks for RASASC! I’m feeling good and ready for the race this year.

In terms of a time, the first year I ran for RASASC I was so focussed on finishing in under two hours, the second year I ran it with my best friend but this year I’m going to plod along, not focus on the time and just soak it all in. This year is about enjoying myself! I have some family and close friends coming along to support me which I’m so grateful for.

I’ve managed to beat my fundraising target thanks to lots of generous donations. The support has been overwhelming!

I run for RASASC because I couldn’t be more proud to run for such an incredible charity. The work RASASC does to help survivors & their families really does change lives, and helps people to heal and move forwards."

Natalie and Zach Sponsor us!

Nathalie: "I’ve been running semi-competitively since 2018 at university. I’ve done two other half marathons for RASASC, the LLHM in 2023 and the Big Half in 2022, and one independently in Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

It’s been difficult balancing training with law school and building my CV for pupillage applications next year, but I managed to complete the 21.1 km just in time to do a full two-week taper! I’m not expecting a PB by any means but we’ll see how it goes - a sub-2 hour time would be fantastic this time around. I will be running with my husband Zach, and I also roped my friend Hamish into doing it too!

RASASC’s cause is incredibly personal to me and close to my heart. I’m really happy that I get to dedicate the first year of my marriage to supporting the cause, and it will be the first half marathon for my husband Zach!

The support we have had from friends and family has been really heart warming. We managed to hit the target last year over the course of our wedding activities. Good luck to everyone running! And thank you to trainer Tom White for the invaluable advice."

Maddie T Sponsor me!

"I did a couch to 5k course in lockdown 2020 (like many people!) but I didn't take up running after that. Before last Christmas, I couldn't even run for 2 minutes, so this is a really big challenge for me! My training is going ok! It's been a shock to the system trying to get runs in the week, but I've enjoyed running around my local area and finding places I've never seen before!

When I first signed up to this challenge, I thought I would aim for a time - but I honestly will just be so happy to cross the finish line! I am a very slow runner (and proud!) I have my lovely friends and family coming to support me on the day, and my partner is also running the LLHM, but we will not be running together as he is much faster than me!!!

I volunteered on RASASC’s helpline for a little while but had to stop due to work commitments, so I wanted to give back in another way. I think RASASC is a wonderful charity that provide such vital support, so it really was a no brainer to decide to run for RASASC. I'm so incredibly grateful for everyone who has donated to support me!"

Maddy C Sponsor me!

"I started running last year, and took part in the 2024 LLHM. Training has been going well, it’s gone by far quicker than it did last year. I feel mostly ready for the half marathon but the usual nerves/excitement are there!

I want to enjoy the day as much as possible, it’s such a fun atmosphere to be in. I’m not overly worried about my time but am hopeful to beat my previous time of 3hrs. I’m fortunate enough to have my mum, sister and brother joining me on the day as well as my friends supporting me virtually.

I’m running for RASASC because they personally helped me following an incident at university and ensured I had all the help I needed. This help included an ISVA who was a huge part of me continuing on at uni and completing my degree.

Without the help from RASASC I wouldn’t have the career I do now or be in the position I am, so it’s incredible to be able to give back. I have managed to exceed the fundraising goal which I am incredibly grateful about, and can’t thank everyone who’s donated enough."

Maggie Sponsor me!

"I’m looking forward to running the LLHM as it’s the first time I’ve done a run event in London since I did the London Marathon in 1993! I’ve been running since I was a student, my own children are now grown up so that was quite a long time ago!

Training has gone fine, I have done a few half marathons and full marathons over the years, most recently the Portsmouth coastal half marathon in February, so I’m aiming to run it in about two hours.

I’m running for RASASC as my swimming friend Helen works for the charity and knew I loved running and asked if I’d like to.

I have family connections with Guildford and therefore was delighted to support them."

Anna Sponsor me!

"I’m really proud to be supporting the work of RASASC. And am looking forward to a hopefully sunny race day. Thanks for all the support!"

Also running for RASASC we have:

Hamish Sponsor Hamish and Amy Sponsor Amy

Thank you to all of our runners for your support, and good luck!

Disappointment at Church safeguarding vote

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:45:52 GMT

As an organisation that works with survivors of rape and sexual abuse, we followed this week’s vote on safeguarding by the synod of the Church of England with interest.

We were therefore incredibly disappointed by their decision to vote against allowing full, independent safeguarding measures.

This decision ensures that church safeguarding will “continue to fall below the standards of secular organisations” as outlined by Professor Jay in her 2023 report, The Future of Church Safeguarding.

Our Chief Executive Officer Daisy Anderson said: “For survivors of childhood sexual abuse, it’s vitally important that they know that lessons will be learned.

"This decision by the Church of England not to allow independent safeguarding measures is a sign that they are not listening and that young people within the institution remain vulnerable to abuse.

"There is a lot of work to do to restore public faith in the church, and we must continue to push them towards full independence.”

RASASC delighted at adoption of all IICSA report recommendations

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 13:55:57 GMT

We’re delighted at the UK Government’s announcement of 16 January that they will be adopting all 20 of the recommendations from the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Thank you to all of our supporters who joined our voice in this campaign, from writing to your MP or sharing our social media posts raising awareness of the need to act. Your actions will help protect those at risk from child sexual abuse.

RASASC Guildford, as a member of The Survivors Trust, have long been a supporter of the Act on IICSA campaign and we will be watching closely to ensure that these promises are acted upon. We are fully committed, along with other member agencies, to turning the tide on the epidemic of child sexual abuse.

RASASC Guildford CEO Daisy Anderson said: “The adoption of all 20 IICSA recommendations is a decisive step in the right direction in safeguarding children from child sexual abuse. We have a long way to go but this is a cause for hope, and at RASASC Guildford, we are very proud to have played our part in supporting the Act on IICSA campaign.

“We will now watch with determination to ensure that words are backed up by decisive action. ”

The Act on IICSA campaign remains committed to collaborating with the Government, specifically on their lived experience consultation plan, and ensuring that these recommendations lead to meaningful action and systemic reform.

Find out more about the Act on IICSA campaign on The Survivors Trust website .

Thank you for your Christmas Appeal support

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:52:23 GMT

Thank you for all your generous donations to our 2024 Christmas Appeal

Thank you so much to all of our incredible supporters who donated to our first ever Christmas Appeal, which has raised over £1,700.

Your support will go a long way in helping survivors of sexual harm across Surrey that need our help.

RASASC CEO Daisy Anderson said: “I’m so pleased to tell you that our first ever fundraising campaign has raised £1,724.17.

“We have learnt a lot about campaigns in the process - not least, that people’s generosity is astounding! Although we didn’t reach our target, it’s clear there is an appetite for campaigns from RASASC, as an easy and straightforward way for people to show their support.

“Often words can feel inadequate, but I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you who donated to our Christmas Appeal. In doing so you have made a difference to the lives of many. We’ll certainly be back with more campaigns, so watch this space!”

We will continue to use the GiveMatch platform to support our team in the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April, meaning that donations made to our runners can be doubled if two of their friends and family donate too.

We will be posting more about our amazing team soon, but if you would like to donate to any of our incredible runners, you can do so here:

Hamish , Nathalie and Zach , Maddy , Georgia , Chantelle , Maddie , Jess and Maggie .

Thank you for your support in 2024

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:45:49 GMT

Thank you to all of you for your support this year!

We’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge THANK YOU to all of our supporters, partners and volunteers for their ongoing support this year.

Some of our key achievements in 2024 include:

Delivering counselling to 934 people, supporting 1,248 ISVA clients and taking 1,094 calls on our helpline

Securing a £110,000 three year grant from Children in Need for our Youth Counselling Service

Speaking to over 450 secondary school pupils across Surrey in bespoke workshops and assemblies

An incredible £31,000 raised through our Charity of the Year partnership with Burhill Golf Club

Amazing supporter Kristen , who ran an incredible three half marathons in three consecutive days

Attending Pride in Surrey , and talking to everyone there about what we do, including the Mayor of Guildford

Being invited along to Freshers Week at The University of Surrey to chat with students and staff

Hosting a visit by the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey who donated £6,000 towards our work

Attending a charity golf day held by Surrey Golfbags Charity Golf Society, which raised an incredible £16,200

Being invited to be part of the panel for the Surrey Soroptimist’s conference ‘Is Surrey Safe for Women?’

Securing grants of £10,000 from NEXT towards our counselling services, and £500 from TKMaxx and Homesense Foundation

Having an amazing team of 10 runners in the London Landmarks Half Marathon – including our own CEO Daisy - who raised a fantastic £5,000 between them

Our very own Fundraising Manager Helen, who took on the Brighton and Hove Triathlon in September, and raised nearly £600

Receiving a donation from the High Sheriff of Surrey of £4,000 for our Youth Counselling work

Being nominated by the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey for two tickets to the Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey, which allowed us to treat two of our long serving staff and volunteers

What an incredible year. We are always humbled and grateful for the lengths supporters go to to raise money to support our work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey. None of this would be possible without your support, so thank you

We'd like to wish all of our supporters, volunteers, staff and partners a happy and healthy new year, and we look forward to working with you more in 2025.

Support this Christmas

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 14:08:33 GMT

Details of support services if you need help over Christmas and New Year

The RASASC office will be closed from 1pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 until Thursday 2 January 2025.

Our office will re-open at 9am on Thursday 2 ^nd January. You can get in touch by calling us on 01483 568000 or emailing admin@rasasc-guildford.org .

Our adult counselling service will also reopen to new referrals on Thursday 2 January 2025 at 10am

Support Services

We know the festive period isn't an easy time for everyone. If you are struggling and need support over Christmas, the following services are here to help:

The national Sexual Abuse Support Line is open 24 hours a day seven days a week. Call them on 0808 500 2222

The Samaritans are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call them free on 116 123 .

Mind have some tips and advice for the Christmas period for those struggling with their mental health and the pressures of Christmas

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) have some tips of how to get through Christmas if you’re feeling anxious , as well as a suicide prevention helpline that's open 365 days a year from 5pm - midnight - 0800 58 58 58

There are five Safe Havens across Surrey, in Aldershot, Epsom, Guildford, Redhill and Woking, offering out of hours mental health help and support for people experiencing a mental health crisis. The centres are open from 6-11pm, 365 days a year. Each centre also offers a virtual Safe Haven service so you can access support without leaving home. (scroll down the page to the virtual safe havens section for the link to your nearest virtual centre)

There are self help guides on our website that can help with flashbacks, grounding, nightmares and panic attacks

And our Linktree contains lots of useful links to services and information that can help

However you choose to spend this time of year, please reach out for support if you need it, you are not alone

RASASC to leave X

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 16:26:41 GMT

We will be closing our X account @HelpRASASC in December. Please see our statement from RASASC CEO Daisy Anderson:

"It is becoming increasingly clear that RASASC's organisational values are at odds with X, and the concerning increase in misogynistic and victim-blaming content does not allow us to communicate with our followers in a safe, healthy and inclusive environment.

"Victim blaming is something we as an organisation have worked very hard to dispel within our own communities, juries and the criminal justice system. By having a presence on X, we are allowing these damaging views to reach our followers. For this reason we have decided to close our X account on 6 December 2024.

"We will be continuing to use our Instagram , Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, and can still be found there."

Thank you to our trustees

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 13:56:20 GMT

A huge thank you to all of our hardworking trustees this Trustees' Week.

Our trustees volunteer their time, knowledge and expertise to support and expand our work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

What does a trustee do?

Trustees are volunteers who offer their time and knowledge, sharing responsibility for governing a charity and directing how it is managed and run.

They can offer support in terms of connections, sharing and endorsing the charity’s work in articles and posts as well as attending board meetings and overseeing decision-making.

Charity trustees have six main functions:

Ensuring the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit.
Complying with the charity's governing document and the law.
Acting in the charity's best interests.
Managing charity resources responsibly.
Acting with reasonable care and skill.
Ensuring the charity is accountable.

Meet our trustees!

At RASASC Guildford, we currently have six trustees who bring a variety of skills to our board:

Kevin Young is our Chair and Treasurer. Kevin is a retired Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years’ experience in senior finance roles. He is using his skills to support local charities.

Caroline Deane worked as a palliative and frailty care nurse in the NHS for many years, before taking on her current role at a hospice in Cambridge.

Susan Forda is a trained pharmacist, who worked for Eli Lilly for 26 years, becoming Managing Director of the Eli Lilly UK Research and Development site. Susan was previously a trustee of the Eli Lilly Pension Fund.

Helen Price has been involved with RASASC for over 20 years, volunteering as a speaker, helping with fundraising events, a helpline volunteer, a counsellor and most recently providing our friends and family support service.

Liz Perera is a HR professional with over 20 years’ experience and she is passionate about diversity and ensuring equity and inclusion for all. Liz was introduced to RASASC through a fellow trustee.

Sian Felstead is an experienced Programme Manager with over 20 years experience in delivering financial services transformation projects across both IT and business across the world.

We are so grateful to all our trustees for their ongoing support. Read more about all of them on our Trustees page .

To find out more about the role of a charity trustee and what they do, visit GOV.UK.

RASASC Helpline closing on 12 December

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:00:00 GMT

Our helpline will be closing on Thursday, 12 December 2024

At RASASC Guildford we are dedicated to providing confidential, free support to all survivors of sexual harm across Surrey. As part of this, we regularly review our services to ensure they are meeting the needs of our clients.

We looked at our helpline service and found that calls had been steadily reducing, and the service wasn’t being fully used. This told us we weren’t providing a service that our clients needed.

As a result, we will be winding down our helpline service on 12 December 2024, and we have also closed our online live chat. In its place we will be launching a Support Line in February 2025 for those on our counselling waiting list, enabling us to retain the knowledge and skills of our highly valued helpline volunteers.

The new Support Line will offer focussed, pro-active support for those on our counselling waiting list who have opted into the service. To access the Support Line service, you will have already referred into our adult counselling service.

To find out more about our Support Line service, please visit our FAQs page .

For other support services covering a range of issues, our Linktree has details of several local and national services you may be useful.

If you need a telephone helpline, please call the national helpline operated by Rape Crisis on 0808 500 2222, it’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Golfbags charity raises 16,000 for RASASC

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 10:31:20 GMT

The Golfbags Charity Golf Society raised an incredible £16,200 towards RASASC's work

A huge thank you to Surrey Golfbags Charity Golf Society for hosting RASASC at their charity golf day, which raised over £16,000 for our work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

Chairperson Sue Bonny said: “So many of our members have expressed how important the work is that RASASC does with survivors of rape and sexual abuse, so we are absolutely thrilled to be able to support your cause with a donation of £16,200.”

Thank you so much to all the members who donated and supported the golf day. The incredible amount raised will mean we can reach many more people across Surrey who urgently need support through our counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services.

To find out more about the work we do and the support we offer, visit our Get Support page .

Fundraising Manager takes on Brighton and Hove triathlon!

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 13:08:50 GMT

Our Fundraising Manager Helen, is taking on her first ever triathlon for RASASC!

Our plucky Fundraising Manager Helen is taking on the Brighton and Hove triathlon on Sunday, 1 September, to help raise money and awareness for RASASC.

She says: “I have many friends who have experienced sexual harm and the wider impact it has on them and their families and friends, so I am doing this for them.

"The services we provide at RASASC are phenomenal, and are all free – which is why I’ve found myself raising awareness by doing a triathlon! If my efforts help one person to reach out and get in contact for support, then I have already achieved my goal.

"You are not alone and the team at RASASC are out of this world. We are here to help you get your life on track, look forward to your future and provide the support you need.”

The Brighton and Hove triathlon is a sprint event, involving a 750 metre swim, 20km bike ride and a 5km run. Helen has been training hard and has set herself the challenge of raising £350. To help her smash this target, visit her JustGiving page to make a donation to our vital work.

All money raised will go towards supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey through our counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor services.

Thank you so much Helen for taking on this incredible challenge for RASASC, and good luck, we know you will smash it!

Kristin's three half marathons in three days challenge!

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:59:41 GMT

Fantastic supporter Kristin is taking on three half marathons in three days for RASASC!

24-year-old Kristin is taking on the incredible challenge in June. We caught up with the future trainee solicitor to find out why she's decided to take on such a huge challenge:

She says: “I started running in July 2023. I originally just wanted to be able to do 10k, but I ended up running my first half-marathon in October!

“I wanted to give myself a challenge, so I came up with this idea of running three half marathons in three days. As well as taking on the challenge, I wanted to do it for charity, so I decided to run for RASASC as they are an organisation that holds a special place in my heart. They do incredibly important work supporting people in my local area, and this is my way of giving back and helping them continue their mission.

“Training is going well, and I'm enjoying it so far, but I am still working on building up my distance after taking it easy over the winter. I think I will find it more challenging when I am doing multiple long runs a week as I tend to get bored quite easily!

“I am sitting my Solicitors Qualifying Exams in May so revision is currently taking up most of my time, and I'm also going to Italy a couple of weeks before the races, but I will be using that as the perfect opportunity to carb load!

“My plan is to treat the first day as a long easy run and then try and build up my pace each day. I'm hoping to complete each race in under 2 hours 20 minutes, and I know the support of my friends and family at each event will help to spur me on. I’m currently trying to convince my friends to enter with me, but they’re not too keen!”

The three half marathons Kristin will be running are:

Friday 21st June – Day 5 of Marathon Madness - the Widewater Half Marathon

Saturday 22nd June - Denbies Half Marathon

Sunday 23rd June - Richmond Park Half Marathon

We’re so grateful to Kristin for taking on this phenomenal challenge for RASASC. If you would like to support Kristin as she raises money for our vital work, you can donate through her JustGiving page .

RASASC presented with £31,000 charity of the year cheque

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:19:51 GMT

We were delighted to receive a cheque for £31,095 from Burhill Golf Club by the 2023 men’s and ladies golf captains.

RASASC were very fortunate to be chosen as Burhill Golf Club's charity of the year for 2023.

We’re very grateful to captains Jane and Richard for not only choosing us as the club's charity, but for all their hard work arranging and promoting events and highlighting the work of RASASC to Burhill's members.

The incredible amount was raised throughout the year from a variety of events including a silent auction and a charity golf day.

Outgoing men’s captain Richard Smith said “Supporting RASASC was the highlight of the captaincy, and we were delighted with how well the work of the charity was received by our members”.

Jane Anderson, outgoing ladies captain added “We’re thrilled with how much was raised by our members in support of RASASC and the work they do across Surrey.”

The money raised will be used to support our work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

To find out more about the work we do and the support we offer, visit our Get Support page.

Helpline and Live Chat closed on 1 April

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:57:48 GMT

Our helpline and live chat services will be closed on bank holiday Monday

Our telephone helpline and live chat services will both be closed on bank holiday Monday, 1 April.

If you need to access support over the bank holiday, please call 0808 500 2222 or visit: www.rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/want-to-talk/ to start a live chat. Both of these services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The RASASC telephone helpline will re-open on Tuesday 2 April at 7.30pm, and our live chat will next be available on Wednesday 3 April at 7.30pm

To access support guides and information on grounding techniques, dealing with flashbacks, nightmares and panic attacks, visit our self help resources .

Meet our London Landmarks Half Marathon team!

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:50:18 GMT

Meet our team of 10 fantastic runners taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon on 7 April

Daisy

Daisy is our very own CEO! She’s taking on the LLHM in support of all the survivors and clients we work with.

She says: “I’ve never done anything like a half marathon! I have had small phases of running in the past, but I’ve never been able to run more than 20 minutes at a time or for very far, so this is a huge personal challenge!

“Last year I came along and cheered on all the runners taking part for RASASC, and I was really moved by their dedication and support.

“So when the opportunity came up to take part myself, I felt it was the least I could do to support and acknowledge all of our clients and volunteers, and to raise awareness of what we do.”

Daisy, the whole team at RASASC are wishing you lots of luck! You can sponsor her on her JustGiving page

Jess

Jess is a returning runner, having run the LLHM for RASASC is 2023 – and this time she’s brought her best friend Emma with her!

She says: “ RASASC holds a deeply personal place in my heart. The support the charity offers to survivors and their families is the reason why I’m running to raise awareness for a second year in a row.

"I’m feeling excited, I’m running with my best friend this year so we’re going to do it together and focus on getting across the finish line!"

Thanks so much Jess, and good luck to both you and Emma! Support Jess through her JustGiving page

Erin

Runner Erin is looking forward to celebrating her birthday the day after the London Landmarks Half Marathon!

She says: “It’s my birthday on the Monday so I’ll be having a small double celebration with my friends at the finish line! I’ve always loved running, I’ve never been particularly fast but it’s never stopped me getting my running shoes on. I did the London Landmarks the very first year and this will be my third half marathon.

“I’m running for RASASC because It’s a good charity that does great work. As much as you’d hope you never have to, anyone may need to access this help at any time during their lives so it’s important to support where I can."

Thank you Erin, for running for RASASC. To support Erin, visit her JustGiving page

Freya

Freya volunteers on RASASC’s helpline, offering support and advice to survivors and their families. She says:

“I haven't really done any serious running before apart from a couple of 5k’s here and there. I did do a full marathon when I was a teenager – but it was mostly walking. It’s been difficult to fit in runs as I’ve just started a new job which involves quite a bit of overseas travel, but overall, I feel ok for the day. I know I will be able to do it, just not how fast I will be! (but that isn't my aim anyway!)

“Having volunteered as a helpline listener for RASASC, I wanted to support the charity through doing my own fundraising.”

Thanks so much Freya. To sponsor Freya for the LLHM, visit her fundraising page on JustGiving

Natalie

Nat is back for a second year running for RASASC, having taken part in the 2023 event

“I did the LLHM for the first time last year. It was amazing and I quickly signed up to do it again. Last year I did it in 2 hours and 44. I’d like to shave a minute or two off maybe, but for me it’s about running with my friends, encouraging them and getting it done. The support of my husband and two children on the day will definitely help!

“I’m running for RASASC as I have two people close to me who have accessed the support RASASC offers and it has been life changing, healing and wonderfully affirming support for them.”

Huge thanks to Nat for supporting us again. To make a donation, visit her JustGiving page

Nicki

Nicki ran the LLHM two years ago, but it is her first time running for RASASC.

She says: “I decided to run for RASASC as I work for Kent Police and your services are invaluable. I hope to raise more awareness for what you do.

“Training is going well, I've run up to 10 miles so far and train around three times a week - if I can fit it in alongside my children and work!

"I don't really have a plan for the day except to finish and enjoy the atmosphere!”

Sounds like a great plan to us! Good luck Nicki – to sponsor her, visit her JustGiving page

Paris

Paris is another one of our returning runners, having run for RASASC last year.

She says: “I took up running in lockdown and fell in love with it and its ability to clear my head. Never in a million years did I think I’d be running any sort of race let alone a half marathon!! I ran the LLHM last year for RASASC Guildford and I am so honoured to be attempting it again for them this year. It was such a special day I can’t wait to give it another go!

“I decided to run for the RASASC as someone very close to me was sexually abused as a child. I’ve seen how it has affected their life up until this very day and I just needed to be a part of standing up for survivors just like them. The work that RASASC do is amazing, and I want to do my best to make people aware of this. If I can help by running 13 miles, then I will.

“My boyfriend and some friends will be supporting from the side lines on the day, and I’m so excited to see the RASASC team cheering us all on too, it was such a lovely surprise to see their faces last year - the perfect motivation boost!”

We will be there to cheer you on again Paris! To support Paris, visit her JustGiving page

Rachel

Runner Rachel is normally found taking on 10k runs, and the LLHM will be her first official half marathon

“I’ve been running for around 10 years now, I started at high school running for the athletics team and now throughout my undergraduate degree I compete with the cross-country team as well as running regularly with friends, including parkrun!

“I’m excited to do my first official half marathon, I’d absolutely love to be able to get as close to 1hr 50 as possible, I’m hoping the crowd can keep me going and I’ll be able to pace myself.

“I’m running for RASASC because the work they do it so important to the community. I found them on the official LLHM charity page and immediately wanted to raise money for them. I have so much respect for the work they do, supporting people who have been victims of sexual violence, and hopefully by running in their charity t-shirt I will help to raise awareness on race day too.”

Thank you so much for your support Rachel. To donate to Rachel’s first ever half marathon, visit her JustGiving page

Emma

Emma is taking on the LLHM with her best friend Jess.

She says: “I’ve never been a runner but I started doing Parkrun with my family last year. Initially I struggled to run the whole thing without walking - my first Parkrun was in January 2023 and it took me 37 minutes! Since signing up for the half marathon, I have really picked up my running, and my quickest Parkrun time so far was 28 mins.

"Due to an ongoing knee injury I haven’t been able to train as much as I’d have liked, so my main goal is to complete it without walking for a significant chunk. I’m running with my best friend, Jess, and we’ll both have our families and friends there supporting us!

"RASASC are an amazing charity who provide much needed support to victims of sexual crimes. The legal system in the UK has a long way to go with crimes such as these and charities such as RASASC are integral in helping victims by providing guidance and mental health support.”

Thanks so much for your support Emma! To sponsor Emma, visit her JustGiving page.

Jill

Jill is a seasoned runner, having previously run many half marathons and the London Marathon twice. She is also a counsellor with RASASC. She says:

“I feel as ready as I will ever be! My plan is to have fun and finish in just over two hours, which is a huge improvement from the couch potato I was after Christmas!

"I’ll be running with one of my besties and all the lovely RASASC people.

"I’m running for RASASC as I wanted to give something back after all the support they have given me during my counselling placement. The work they do is fantastic, so I felt if I could just give a little, it might make a slight difference.”

Thank you so much to all of our fabulous runners, for getting on their running shoes and taking on this incredible challenge to support our work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

We think you're all amazing, and we look forward to cheering you on on the day!

If you would like to take on an event for RASASC, visit our events page , or contact us on: events@rasasc-guildford.org

RASASC CEO to take on the London Landmarks Half Marathon!

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:31:46 GMT

RASASC CEO Daisy Anderson is taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April

Daisy Anderson, RASASC’s CEO is taking to the streets of London next month, to take on the London Landmarks Half Marathon.

We caught up with her to see what lead to this decision and how training is going:

So why have you decided to take on the London Landmarks Half Marathon for RASASC?

“Soon after I joined RASASC last year, I took part in the RASASC cheer team for the London Landmarks, cheering on our runners in the 2023 event. I was so impressed and profoundly moved by everyone running in support of RASASC, that when the opportunity came to take part this year, I felt it was the least I could do to support and acknowledge all of our volunteers and clients and to continue to raise awareness of our services.

“Services such as ours are facing pressure from increased referral demands so it’s vital we help raise awareness and support through events like this, so we can continue to offer our desperately needed services to those that need us.”

Have you done anything like this before?

“No! I’ve never done anything like a half marathon at all! I have had small phases of running in the past, but I’ve never been able to run more than 20 minutes at a time or for very far, so this is a huge personal challenge!”

Have you got a time in mind, or anything you’d like to achieve?

“My main ambition is to run the entire course. I think it will take me around three hours. I’m not too worried about my time, but I will be delighted if I can run the whole way, and that’s what I’m aiming for.

“The opportunity to do this for RASASC and to help raise awareness of who we are and what we do, was too good to miss, so I’m really hoping the atmosphere and the crowd on the day will help to carry me along!”

Have you got anyone coming along to support you on the day?

“My friends and family will be coming down to cheer me on, and no doubt the RASASC volunteers will raise a cheer as I pass through!

Good luck Daisy, and thank you for taking on this incredible challenge for RASASC!

If you'd like to support Daisy as she takes on the LLHM, you can visit her JustGiving page to make a donation.

Live chat launches

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:35:14 GMT

RASASC's new live chat service launches on 13 March

RASASC's new live chat service launches on Wednesday 13 March at 7.30pm.

Launched as a new way to access help and support for survivors of rape and sexual abuse and their families, the live chat will initially be open on Monday and Wednesday evenings between 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

The live chat is a text-based chat service that you can access through your phone, tablet or PC. It is operated by RASASC volunteers, so you will always be chatting with a real person, never a bot.

Visitors will be able to access the chat through our website by clicking on the orange speech bubble. The speech bubble will only be visible when the live chat service is open.

Daisy Anderson RASASC CEO said: "The live chat offers us a different way to provide a quality service to our clients. We know there are people who need our support, but for various reasons they are unable to reach out to us, so we're launching the live chat to help bridge this gap.

"We particularly want to reach younger people as we recognise there are a large proportion of survivors aged 13-25 who are unable to reach out so we hope this will give them an alternative way to access the vital support they so rightly deserve.

"Please do share the live chat with anyone who may benefit - it's not just for survivors, it's for friends and families or anyone needing support"

For more information on the live chat, when it's open and how to access it, visit our FAQs page and scroll down to the live chat section.

Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 11:28:19 GMT

5-11 February marks Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week.

5-11 February marks Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week. A week to raise awareness of services like RASASC that offer support survivors, as well as starting conversations to break down taboos around sexual harm.

After experiencing a traumatic incident such as rape or sexual abuse, many survivors can feel ashamed or guilty by reacting in ways they hadn’t anticipated, and some can feel they didn’t do enough to prevent the abuse from happening.

It’s important to remember that your fear reactions are instinctive. Your brain is designed to protect you and it will automatically take action to prevent you from harm. These reactions are designed to keep you safe and reacting like this doesn’t mean you are consenting to what is happening to you, your brain is trying to help you survive the situation.

The five fear responses are:

These reactions are all instinctive survival mechanisms. It’s important to remember that by reacting like this, you are not giving consent .

If you need help after rape and sexual abuse, we support anyone over the age of 13 across Surrey who has been affected by sexual harm.

To find out more about what we do and to get in touch, visit our Get Support page or have a look through our FAQs

If you live outside of Surrey, visit The Survivors Trust who can direct you to services in your area that can offer support

February is LGBT+ History Month

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:30:00 GMT

February marks LGBT+ History month

February marks LGBT+ History month, celebrating the achievement and diversity of LGBT+ people, as well as raising awareness and combating prejudice.

At a time when the LGBT+ community is experiencing a rise in hate crime, visit the LGBT+ History Month website for details of how to get involved and show your support.

The theme for 2024 is medicine, celebrating LGBT+ peoples’ contribution to the field of medicine and healthcare, especially across the NHS and in the face of the COVID pandemic. This is in contrast to the varied and poor experiences of many LGBT+ people in accessing and receiving healthcare, which has left many facing health inequalities today.

At RASASC, we support all survivors of rape and sexual abuse over the age of 13 across Surrey. To find out more about our services and how to get in touch, visit our Get Support page

Thank you to all of our supporters

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:05:57 GMT

Thank you to all of our supporters for their support in 2023

We’d like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of our supporters, partners and volunteers for your ongoing commitment to our work this year.

Your continued support means we are able to be there for even more survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey through our helpline, counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services.

Some of our key achievements in 2023 include:

Welcoming a new CEO, expanding our ISVA team and taking on a new Fundraising Manager, Counselling Administrator and Helpline Supervisors
Recruiting more brilliant helpline and counselling volunteers to help support survivors
Being chosen as the 2023 Captains Charity at Burhill Golf Club, a partnership that has raised an incredible £20,000 towards our work through events such as a charity golf day and a silent auction
Having a team of seven runners in the 2023 London Landmarks Half Marathon who not only ran the 13.1 mile course, but between them raised a fantastic £4,493
All of our incredible supporters that took on challenges for us; there was a skydive, a 10k walk, a handbag sale, a runner in the Worthing Half Marathon, and fabulous supporter Kevin, who is currently biking his way across India!
Hosting a visit from Edward Argar MP, Minister of State for Justice and Guildford MP Angela Richardson alongside the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey to meet our team and learn about the challenges we face
Welcoming four new trustees to our board, as we said goodbye to three others
Ongoing support for our Crowdfunder for young survivors aged 13-25 which has currently raised £11,885
Being selected as one of the three local charities in the Co-op Local community fund, which helped to raise £3,166.51
Tesco shoppers voting for us to win the top grant of £1,500 in their Stronger Starts scheme
Engaging with students at wellbeing events at Farnham UCA and Godalming College, as well as Freshers Week at the University of Surrey
·Delivering 15 talks and presentations to school and college staff and students on consent and healthy relationships.
Launching ourselves onto Instagram !
Supporting The Survivors Trust on the #ActOnIICSA campaign , which calls for action on the recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse
Hosting a visit from Tim Wates, the High Sheriff of Surrey, to learn more about our work as part of his focus on improving mental health services for young people
Securing a three year grant from the Henry Smith Charitable Trust for £129,800 towards our running costs.
Being awarded a one year grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation for £30,000 towards our family support for young people.

And it's all thanks to you

None of this would be possible without our incredible supporters, and we are immensely grateful to all of you.

To find out other ways you can get involved in supporting our work, visit our events page to get involved with an event, or sign up to receive our twice yearly supporter newsletter which is packed full of stories, resources and exciting ways in which you can get involved.

Thank you so much for all of your support in 2023, we look forward to achieving even more together in 2024.

Christmas opening hours

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:37:03 GMT

RASASC will be closed from 25 December 2023 until 2 January 2024

Our office and helpline will both be closed from Monday 25 December 2023 until Tuesday 2 January 2024.

Our office will re-open at 9am on Tuesday 2 January. You can get in touch by calling us on 01483 568000 or emailing admin@rasasc-guildford.org .

Our helpline will return back to its normal hours of operation, Monday – Thursday, 7.30pm – 9.30pm from Tuesday 2 January 2024. You can call the helpline on 01483 546400

For helpline support between 23 December – 1 January, please call the national Rape Crisis line on 0808 500 2222. It’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you need help

We know the festive period isn't an easy time for everyone. If you are struggling and need help and support, the following services are here to help:

The Samaritans are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call them free on 116 123.

Mind have some tips and advice for the Christmas period for those struggling with their mental health

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) have a helpline that's open 365 days a year from 5pm - midnight - 0800 58 58 58

Blossom hold regular sober social drop ins for LGBT+ people. There’s one scheduled for Boxing Day in Woking. View dates and register here

Safe Havens offer out of hours mental health help and support for people experiencing a mental health crisis. There are five centres across Surrey in Aldershot, Epsom, Guildford, Redhill and Woking which are open 6-11pm, 365 days a year. Each centre also offers a virtual Safe Haven service so you can access support without leaving home. (scroll down the page to the virtual safe havens section for the link to your nearest virtual centre)

You can also use the self help guides on our website. These can help with flashbacks, grounding, nightmares and panic attacks

And our Linktree is full of lots of useful links and information to services that can help.

However you choose to spend this time of year, please reach out for support if you need it, you are not alone

Kevin bikes around India for RASASC

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 16:32:28 GMT

Superstar supporter Kevin is taking on India on a motorbike for RASASC!

Superstar supporter Kevin is setting off for India on Tuesday 5 December. He's taking on an incredible challenge that will see him travel around 4,000 miles on a Royal Enfield Himalayan motorbike from New Delhi via the Taj Mahal, the Ganges river⁣, the historic city of Jabalpur⁣, through Hyderabad, the temples of Guntakal, then Goa, Mumbai and Udaipur before returning back to New Delhi.

The incredible trip is expected to take around six weeks to complete, and it's all in support of our work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

Kevin says he's looking forward to "eating some food, getting very hot, soaking up some culture and attempting the challenge!"

To support Kevin in his incredible endeavour, you can donate via his JustGiving page , and to follow his progress, he'll be blogging on his Instagram page .

Kevin, we wish you all the luck in the world, and thank you so much for taking on this unbelievable challenge to help change the lives of survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

Support RASASC this Giving Tuesday

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:18:26 GMT

Show your support for RASASC on Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday takes place each year in November. It’s a day for doing good, giving back and celebrating the work done by charities.

We’d like to thank all of our supporters for their ongoing commitment in helping us reach more survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

In 2022/23 thanks to you:

838 individuals were supported through our confidential helpline
598 young people and adults received specialist counselling
918 clients benefited from one on one emotional and practical advice from our team of ISVAs

However, there are still many more survivors across Surrey that need our support, and you could help us reach them.

There are lots of easy ways you can get involved in supporting us. Why not try one of these ideas?

To help you get started, and for more ideas on how you can support our work in 2024, visit our website or email us on fundraising@rasasc-guildford.org , we'd love to hear from you!

All your donations, however big or small make a huge difference to the survivors we support and allow us to continue to provide our vital services.

Have a look at the list below for an idea of what your donation could buy:

By donating to RASASC this Giving Tuesday, you can change the lives of survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

Thank you for your support.

White Ribbon Day

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 14:22:32 GMT

Saturday 25 November is White Ribbon Day , a day that calls for an end to violence against women and girls.

At RASASC we support survivors of all genders, however they identify. To mark White Ribbon Day, we’re calling for everyone to play their part in ensuring we are all responsible in recognising and calling out abuse in all its forms to help those without a voice be heard. Collectively, we can make a difference.

One of the main areas we can all have an impact is recognising and addressing rape culture. Rape culture is when sexual violence and abuse is normalised, played down or laughed off. This often comes in the form of victim blaming – immediately asking what a victim of sexual abuse was wearing, whether they were drunk, whether they were flirting etc. It’s important to remember that blame always lies with rapists not victims. People have a right to dress and act how they like, and being friendly doesn’t mean they are consenting to sexual activity. Take a look at our rape myths and understanding consent page to find out more.

We also have a school’s programme aimed at 13-19 year olds where we can deliver tailored workshops to students and staff around consent, healthy relationships and sexting. To find out more and request a workshop, contact us on admin@rasasc-guildford.org

It’s vital that we work together to say enough is enough, and to end sexual violence for all victims. We work closely with agencies such as Surrey Police and Surrey County Council to ensure we are having an impact within our local communities. Have a look at Surrey Police’s recent Do The Right Thing campaign , which encourages people to call out instances of abuse, racism and sexism

This White Ribbon Day, take a stand and ensure you are playing your part in giving a voice to victims, and calling out all forms of abuse.

#ChangeTheStory

Thank you to our trustees

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 15:14:12 GMT

A huge thank you to all of our hardworking trustees this Trustees' Week,

Our trustees volunteer their time, knowledge and expertise to support and expand our work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

What does a trustee do?

Trustees are volunteers who offer their time and knowledge, sharing responsibility for governing a charity and directing how it is managed and run.

They can offer support in terms of connections, sharing and endorsing the charity’s work in articles and posts as well as attending board meetings and overseeing decision-making.

Charity trustees have six main functions:

Ensuring the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit.
Complying with the charity's governing document and the law.
Acting in the charity's best interests.
Managing charity resources responsibly.
Acting with reasonable care and skill.
Ensuring the charity is accountable.

Meet our trustees!

At RASASC Guildford, we currently have seven trustees who bring a variety of skills to our board:

Simon White is our Chair, responsible for convening the board and overseeing its function. Simon is a chartered accountant with 35 years’ experience in the oil industry.

Caroline Deane worked as a palliative and frailty care nurse in the NHS for many years, before taking on her current role at a hospice in Cambridge.

Kevin Young is our Treasurer. Kevin is a retired Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years’ experience in senior finance roles. He is using his skills to support local charities.

Jane Anderson was a policy advisor in number of government departments including the Home Office and Ministry of Justice. From 2013-2019, she was Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.

Sian Felstead is an experienced Programme Manager with over 20 years experience in delivering financial services transformation projects across both IT and business across the world.

We are so grateful to all our trustees for their ongoing support. Read more about all of them on our Trustees page .

To find out more about the role of a charity trustee and what they do, visit GOV.UK.

RASASC Christmas Cards

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:19:58 GMT

Send a RASASC card this Christmas

This Christmas, why not support RASASC through your Christmas cards?

Packs of RASASC Christmas cards are available at the reduced cost of £2.50 for a pack of 10. All funds raised through our Christmas cards will go towards our vital work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

The cards feature a snowy, festive scene with a tree full of robins and winter berries. Inside the greeting reads 'Season's Greetings'

Each pack of 10 is available for £2.50 plus postage:

To order yours, email: events@rasasc-guildford.org with the number of packs you require and the address to send them to.

Payment including postage can be made through our JustGiving page as a one-off donation, with the reference 'Christmas cards'. Cards will be dispatched to you second class.

Thank you for supporting RASASC this Christmas

Act on IICSA

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 09:24:56 GMT

Today, Friday, October 20th, 2023, marks one year since the publication of the final Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) report

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) report detailed the investigation into Child Sexual Abuse in England & Wales over a period of decades and proposed vital recommendations to prevent future abuse.

Following the inquiry, a series of legacy benches were installed at locations across England and Wales. These benches provide a reflective space and commemorate the experiences of thousands of victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

Three of the benches have been installed in Guildford. RASASC CEO Daisy Anderson said:

“It’s fantastic to have three of the legacy benches here in Guildford as a visual tribute to all the survivors. The benches serve to commemorate all those who have been affected and whose contributions to the Inquiry have been so valuable. Now, we must continue these conversations about child sexual abuse and keep a continued focus on the ongoing scale of the problem.”

The report put forward 20 recommendations to help tackle child sexual abuse in England and Wales, however, to date, none of the recommendations have been adopted in full.

Supporters and campaigners will be meeting on 20 October, the anniversary of the report’s publication at the legacy bench on Victoria Embankment, London, to raise awareness of the need to adopt the report's recommendations to ensure the safety and protection of child sexual abuse survivors.

For more information, visit The Survivors Trust website

#ActOnIICSA

New website for concerned teens

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 15:25:38 GMT

Shore is a new website full of help and advice aimed at 13-18 year olds

A new website from child sexual exploitation charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation has been launched to provide as a safe space for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour.

Shore has been designed especially for young people aged 13-18, as a dedicated and confidential resource for teenagers concerned about their own or someone else's sexual thoughts and behaviour.

Research shows that under 18s are responsible for a third of sexual offences against young people in the UK. Shore's aims to address this by offering accessible, practical advice and dedicated support for young people concerned about harmful sexual behaviour.

Rachel Haynes, Senior Practitioner at The Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Clinical Lead for Shore explains:

“We conducted research with young people, parents and professionals to find out what concerns them, where they currently go for support and what they think we should develop. Young people told us they want clear, reliable information they can trust and confidential and anonymous ways to seek support

“Shore offers an engaging and interactive experience, including a chat and email service for teenagers to seek advice and support on a variety of issues, including harmful sexual behaviour, the law, online risks and concerns about friends,”

Shore also provides parents with the peace of mind that their children are receiving advice from clinical experts who are leaders in their field.

To find out more, visit the Shore website

Sexual Abuse Support at the University of Surrey

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 10:07:23 GMT

The University of Surrey has a team of dedicated Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs)

While many students are settling into university life after fresher's week, it's a good time to familiarise yourself with the many services on offer to help you enjoy your studies.

The University of Surrey has a team of specially trained Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLOs) who can support anyone who has been affected by rape or sexual abuse.

It doesn't matter if the incident occurred before you joined the university, if it's affecting your university life, they can support you.

They can help with:

Getting you moved from university accommodation, or moving the perpetrator if they live near you
Moving or postponing exams if you are struggling to cope
Signposting to other, suitable services for further support
Giving help and advice

All of their services are confidential, and they will not inform the university if you get in touch. To contact the SVLOs at Surrey University, email: svlo@surrey.ac.uk

Staying safe on a night out

Worried about how to stay safe on a night out? Use our student linktree

It's full of useful links and information on drink, drugs, personal wellbeing, and getting home safely. You can access it via the link above, or by scanning the below QR code.

If you need our help, please get in touch. Details of all the services we offer and how to reach us are on our Get Support page

RASASC awarded £1,500 from Tesco Stronger Starts

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 13:28:35 GMT

We're thrilled to receive a grant of £1,500 from Tesco Stronger Starts

Thank you to everyone who voted for RASASC Guildford in Tesco stores back in April, we're delighted to have been awarded £1,500 to help support our work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

Daisy Anderson, RASASC Guildford CEO said: "We're so grateful to all the shoppers and supporters across Guildford Tesco stores that voted for RASASC, the funding will enable us to reach more vulnerable people across Surrey who have been affected by rape and sexual abuse.

"This funding has come at such a crucial time. There is a great level of need, and we have had an unprecedented increase in demand since the pandemic. We know through our experience, that if survivors are given the right support at the right time – such as the support offered through our services - then recovery from sexual trauma is absolutely possible and can minimise the impact both to the individual and to society."

Tesco’s Stronger Starts (previously Tesco Bags of Help and Tesco Community Grants) has already provided over £100 million to more than 50,000 projects across Britain.

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. To find out more visit tescoplc.com/strongerstarts

Helpline closed on bank holiday Monday

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 16:14:14 GMT

Our telephone helpline will be closed on bank holiday Monday, 28 August.

For support over the bank holiday, please contact Rape Crisis on 0808 500 2222 or visit their support website to start an online chat . The lines are open 24/7

Our helpline will reopen as normal on Tuesday, 29 August at 7.30pm

A thank you to all our volunteers this Volunteers' Week

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 08:30:00 GMT

Thank you to all our incredible volunteers this Volunteers' Week

Volunteers Week (1-7 June) is a chance for us to thank all our fantastic volunteers for everything they do for RASASC and our clients.

Our volunteers are the backbone of our organisation, bringing with them a wealth of invaluable skills and knowledge from a range of backgrounds and sectors. They help to champion and raise awareness of our work, ensuring we can reach more people that need us.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to all our volunteers across our helpline and counselling services, our events volunteers, our trustees, facilitators and our handyman for everything they do to ensure we can continue to be there for survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

We couldn't do it without you, thank you for your support

Adult Counselling service to temporarily close to new referrals

Fri, 12 May 2023 08:45:00 GMT

Due to increased demand for our adult counselling service for survivors of rape and sexual abuse, we have had to take the difficult decision to close our waiting list for all our our adult counselling services. This includes our 1:1 counselling, and both our introductory and therapy groups.

The waiting list will close on Friday, 12 May at 5pm and will remain closed until 10am on Friday 29 September 2023.

Daisy Anderson, Chief Executive Officer at RASASC Guildford said:

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly. Since the pandemic, we have seen a significant increase in referrals of over 170% and in order to address this, we are closing to new referrals for a period.

“This will enable us to focus our limited resources on addressing our existing, substantial waiting list, to enable us to begin supporting them on their road to recovery."

Our ISVA and helpline services are both still operating, as are our youth and family counselling services. Please visit these pages for more details on these services, how they can help and how to refer.

Other useful information and services

Linktree - links to several support services and networks for both adult and young survivors

Youth Linktree - links to services and support for young survivors aged 13-17

Our Self Help resources - resources to help with nightmares, flashbacks, stress and anxiety and panic attacks

How to find your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) - confidential medical and practical support

Local Surrey Safe Havens - out of hours support for those experiencing a mental health crisis or in emotional distress

Healthy Surrey - links to local rape and sexual abuse support services

24/7 rape support helpline - Helpline and live chat support available 24/7

NHS - advice and links from the NHS following rape or sexual assault

How to find support in your area from The Survivors Trust - postcode search for local rape and sexual abuse support services

The Survivors Trust resources website - useful support and resources

The Samaritans - 24 hour support - call free on 116 123

The Switchboard - support and help for the LGBT+ community

Spectra London - support and counselling for trans people

In an emergency:

RASASC cannot offer crisis support, If you are in crisis, your first point of contact is your GP

Contact your GP for an emergency appointment
Contact the local mental health Crisis Team on 0800 915 4644
For urgent life-saving medical help, call 999, or attend A&E

MPs visit RASASC

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 13:56:34 GMT

RASASC hosted a multi-agency visit by Edward Argar, Minister of State for Justice in March

RASASC Guildford were delighted to host a visit last month by Edward Argar MP, Minister of State for Justice and Guildford MP Angela Richardson.

The visit was organised by the Office of the PCC for Surrey , who met earlier with the Minister to discuss a national operation to drive up convictions for rape and sexual offences.

The muti-agency visit also included representatives from Surrey Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team, South West Surrey Domestic Abuse Outreach Service (SWSDAOS) as well as Daisy Anderson, CEO and staff and volunteers from RASASC Guildford.

The MPs were interested to learn about the challenges faced in supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse and the barriers preventing more from coming forward.

Daisy Anderson CEO of RASASC Guildford said: “We were delighted to host a visit of the PCC for Surrey, local services, and MPs at the RASASC offices to talk about the current pressures and concerns facing the sector, including funding and how we can meet the rise in demand for our services.

“We look forward to continued conversations and joined up working with all who attended to ensure we can continue to deliver high quality support and services to survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.”

Vote for RASASC in the Tesco Community Grants Scheme

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:05:56 GMT

Tesco customers in Guildford can cast a vote for RASASC Guildford when they shop.

Throughout April, Tesco customers in Guildford will be able to vote for RASASC Guildford as part of the Tesco Community Grant scheme .

Customers are given a token at the checkout each time they shop allowing them to vote for one of three groups in their community to win a grant of up to £1,500. RASASC will use the funds to raise awareness of our work and to help survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey get access to the practical and emotional support they need.

Shoppers can vote for RASASC Guildford at the Tesco superstore on Ashenden Rd , and at the Tesco Express stores on Bridge Street , Railton Road and Portsmouth Road .

RASASC Chief Executive Officer, Daisy Anderson said: “We’re really pleased to be part of the Tesco Community Grants scheme, helping to raising awareness of the vital services we provide to survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

“Rape and sexual abuse has no boundaries, it can affect any age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, status or ethnicity. The more awareness we can raise among our communities the better, so we can ensure we are there to support and help those that need us.”

RASASC offer support through a national helpline , open four evenings a week, counselling for adults , young people (aged 13-17) and families , and one on one practical and emotional support through our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service .

All of our services are free, confidential and non-judgemental. Help us reach more people by supporting us in the Tesco Community Grants scheme this April.

Meet our London Landmarks team!

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:50:04 GMT

We have a team of seven plucky runners taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon on 2 April. Here you can meet the team and find out a little more about them

Children’s sports coach Paris is both nervous and excited to run her first half marathon, having never done anything like this before. Until a few years ago she’d never even run a 5k!

She says: “I’m not putting too much pressure on myself, I’m just putting one foot in front of the other and simply running to spread awareness about the amazing work you do.

“Someone I love dearly was sexually abused as a child and help or support was unknown of then. The trauma has impacted their everyday life even to this day. I can’t turn back time, but I can do what I can now. It needs to be spoken about more and taken far more seriously, so I’m running to aid this change in our society and support the amazing work that RASASC provide.”

You can support Paris through her JustGiving page

Anna has previously run a half marathon four years ago, and has joined a running club as part of her training. She says:

“I have been doing a lot of running with my lovely housemate who is training for the London Marathon as well as joining the Friday Run Club – billed as "possibly South London's slowest run club". I’ve also bought myself some extra speedy trainers!

“I hope the sun shines on the day, especially for my Sunday roast and pint after! I wanted to raise awareness and contribute to this small but really important charity as I think RASASC provide incredible support and services for people who have been affected by rape or sexual abuse locally.”

Support Anna here

Jess is another of our runners taking on her first ever half marathon, having only ever run 5k before.

She said: ”To train I’ve been focussing on regular long runs and shorter 5k speed runs three times a week. I’m looking forward to that finish line feeling, and feeling like I’ve accomplished a big milestone moment whilst also raising awareness for a very important charity that I believe should have better visibility and support.

"I truly believe in the work RASASC do, & advocating for a charity like RASASC is something I’m really proud of.”

To support Jess, visit her fundraising page

Paige, a teaching assistant at a SEN school was inspired by her sister who ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon last year.

She says: “I’ve never done anything like this before, but it was amazing to see what my sister achieved last year, so I wanted to have a go and see what how well I could do.

"I'm running with a friend and we're following a half marathon runner beginners guide. It’s amazing to see how far we have come from running less than 1k to completing 10k runs!

"Training is challenging but definitely worth it. On the day I just want to enjoy it. I can't wait to experience it all and take in the atmosphere. I am looking forward to celebrating after and really being able to see just how far I have come.”

You can support Paige on JustGiving

Student union Sabbatical Officer Nathalie is a returning RASASC runner, having taken on The Big Half for RASASC in 2022.

She said” Last September I raced in the Big Half for RASASC Guildford, It was an incredible experience. Training has been a lot tougher this time. I've been unlucky with sickness and injury, I had tendonitis around my meniscus which took 10 weeks to fully resolve, and I also had COVID. Thankfully I managed to bounce back pretty quickly, but I'm a bit slower now than I was last September, and this time I’m just aiming to just get across the finish line! I'm also going to a friend's birthday later that day, so I’m hoping to show up to it with a medal around my neck!

“I’m supporting RASASC because it’s a cause which is near and dear to my heart. I myself am a survivor, and I have found great comfort and meaning in doing everything in my power to help others who went through what I did, and prevent it from happening to more people. Raising money for RASASC is one way of doing this.”

Support Nathalie through her JustGiving page

And completing our team we have Nat and Sevenia .

Visit their fundraising pages to show your support!

A huge thank you to our seven fabulous runners, we really appreciate your support, and we look forward to cheering you all on on the day!

If you would like to take part in an event for RASASC, visit our events page for details of current available places. Also, have a look at our events FAQs at the bottom of our FAQs page .

RASASC Guildford announce new CEO

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 13:53:30 GMT

RASASC Guildford announce Daisy Anderson as their new Chief Executive Officer.

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our new CEO, Daisy Anderson. Taking up post in March, Daisy succeeds Lesley Devonport, who had been in post as CEO since 2016.

Daisy joins RASASC Guildford from leading children’s mental health charity Place2Be where she was most recently Area Manager for London Central, overseeing project delivery to young people in schools, and prior to that Cluster Manager, supporting both the managerial and clinical work of a team of school-based practitioners.

She has also previously been a counsellor both at Rape Crisis South London and within her own private practice, bringing with her a wealth of experience in dealing with intense trauma, such as that suffered by victims of rape and sexual abuse.

Daisy said: “I’m thrilled to be joining RASASC Guildford as CEO. Firstly, I’d like to wish Lesley a warm farewell and thank her for her incredibly generous handover, she will be greatly missed.

“I’m looking forward to working with the team at RASASC Guildford in supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey, as this has been a long term ideological and professional interest. If survivors are given the right support at the right time – such as through the services offered by RASASC Guildford - then recovery from sexual violence and sexual trauma is absolutely possible and can minimise the impact both to the individual and to society.

“The recently published Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) once again highlighted the ongoing and urgent need to tackle this national and global crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic served to exacerbate national safeguarding, emotional and mental health needs and a ‘call to arms’ has been sounded.

"I know there are challenges to address, not just at RASASC Guildford, but sector-wide – such as looking at waiting times for service users - but I am passionately determined to raise awareness, create opportunities for a dialogue around these topics and to improve the skills and confidence of individuals and organisations supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse.”

RASASC Guildford Chair, Simon White said: “I’d like to thank Lesley for all the incredible work she has done to grow and develop RASASC Guildford over the past six and a half years, she is a tough act to follow but I'm truly delighted that Daisy is joining us to lead RASASC Guildford forward.

“Since the pandemic, we have seen such an upsurge in demand and awareness around rape and sexual abuse services, and Daisy joins us at a time when the vital services we provide to survivors across Surrey are never more needed. Daisy brings with her the experience and passion needed to ensure we can continue to meet the challenges ahead."

Dani takes on the Worthing Half Marathon

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 13:15:00 GMT

Supporter Dani from Byfleet is taking on the Worthing Half Marathon on 30 April for RASASC

Dani, who has volunteered on RASASC’s helpline for the past 18 months, providing support and signposting for survivors of rape and sexual abuse and their families, is taking on the challenge of the half marathon next month to raise money and awareness for RASASC.

We caught up with Dani to find out her motivations for taking on the challenge, how training is going and her hopes for the day:

“I have never run longer than 5k before, I only started running at all a couple of years ago thanks to Couch to 5K - a really wonderful app that I would recommend to all wannabe runners! I was always useless at PE in school and I wrote myself off as ‘not an exercise person’ for so many years. I’ve found running has improved my life in many ways - particularly my mental health and so I’m ready to take on a bigger challenge."

What are you doing for training and how is it going?

“I’ve always run outside, but now that I will be running more frequently and the cold weather is upon us, I’ve joined a gym and have been hitting the treadmill. I have a 16 week training plan from a friend who has run many marathons and so I totally trust her judgment. It involves doing two short runs, one strength training workout and one long run per week. The 16 week plan allows for injury time so it doesn’t impact my progress - although I’m really hoping that won’t be my experience!”

What are your hopes for the day?

“I hope the day is dry! It’s the end of April but we never know in the UK - it could be snowing! I hope that I feel a real sense of achievement and that I can aim for a marathon the following year.”

Why are you supporting RASASC?

“I’m running for RASASC as I’ve volunteered on the helpline for 18 months and have seen first-hand the amazing work they do. All charities will be feeling the pinch from the current cost of living crisis, so I want to do my part in fundraising.”

Thank you so much Dani, it sounds like training is going brilliantly, and we wish you all the best for the day.

If you’d like to support Dani, you can do so through her JustGiving page . She’s set herself the target of raising £500, and is well on the way to smashing it!

All the money raised will go towards our vital work supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

To find out what's involved in taking part in an event for RASASC, read the events FAQs at the bottom of our FAQs page , and visit our events page to find out which events we are involved with.

Helplines Awareness Day

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 08:00:04 GMT

Thursday, 23 February marks the first Helplines Awareness Day.

As an organisation, RASASC’s roots lie in helplines. We started off as a helpline service, before developing our counselling and ISVA services to become the RASASC you know today.

We still operate a national helpline for survivors of rape and sexual abuse and their friends and family. It’s open four evenings a week, Monday – Thursday from 7.30pm-9.30pm. Our specially trained helpline advisors can offer support and advice, and signpost to services that can help.

In 2021/22 we took 1,083 calls from people who had been affected by rape and sexual abuse, as well as friends and family concerned as to how best they can support their loved one.

We recently caught up with Lisette, our Helpline Coordinator, to ask her all about the RASASC helpline, what it's like and what's involved:

How long have you been overseeing the RASASC helpline?

“Since June 2022. I am still relatively new in post and learning all the time! However, the supervisors and many of the volunteers are very experienced, and they have kindly shared much of their knowledge with me.”

When does the helpline operate?

“The helpline is open every Monday- Thursday (except bank holidays) from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on 01483 546400.”

How many volunteers currently work on the helpline, and are you recruiting for more?

“We currently have 23 volunteers trained to work on the helpline. We’re not recruiting for new helpline volunteers at the moment, but if you keep an eye on our helpline volunteer page, we will update this when we are recruiting. You can also find a description of what the role entails on there.”

What’s involved in becoming a helpline volunteer?

“All volunteers undergo an extensive training programme before they start on the helpline, and are supported through regular monthly supervision sessions, to ensure they can get any help and support they may need.

“This post carries a genuine occupational requirement and is therefore only open to female volunteers aged 23 and over. We ask that our volunteers commit to one shift every fortnight, and due to the length of training given, can commit to volunteering for us for a minimum of 18 months.”

Is the helpline just for survivors?

“No. Anyone can call our helpline for advice, including friends and family, as they often struggle with how best to support their loved one. The helpline provides a listening and support service for survivors of all genders, as well as those who are supporting a survivor.”

What sort of calls do you receive?

“It really varies. Some callers are phoning for information and help as to what to do next, and others need emotional support. We receive calls about recent incidences, as well as from people who experienced abuse many years ago as a child. We also get calls from friends and family members looking for support and advice on how best to help their loved one, and how to come to terms with what has happened to them.”

Will I have to talk about the abuse?

“No. It takes a lot of courage to talk about the abuse, and often callers will talk about other things in their lives. If you don’t want to talk about it, or you’re not ready to, that’s fine, we won’t pressure you. We are here to listen and support you.”

What’s the best or most rewarding thing about your work?

“I find working for RASASC very rewarding. It’s a local organisation with an excellent reputation staffed by exceptional people. I really enjoy training the volunteers and getting to know these wonderful people who go on to do such a fantastic job providing support to our callers.”

To find out more about all of our free services including our helpline, visit our get support page.

The Helplines Partnership have created a video for Helplines Awareness Day on the benefits of helplines, and the lifeline they offer to many people:

Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 08:45:01 GMT

6 - 12 February is Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week

This week, 6 – 12 February, is Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week . All week we’ll be highlighting on our Facebook and Twitter how we support survivors of rape and sexual abuse through our free and confidential services.

These include:

Our national, confidential helpline that offers support and signposting to survivors and their families,
Our online counselling introductory group to help survivors manage intense emotions, nightmares and poor sleep, and learn how to make positive changes,
Our specialist youth support for survivors aged 13-17. Weekly one to one counselling sessions in a safe and supportive space allows young survivors to explore their thoughts and feelings and make sense of their life experiences,
Our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service, providing emotional and practical advice and support to survivors on a one-to-one basis, helping them with issues such as access to healthcare, the legal process, work issues, and liaising with agencies,
Our free talks for Surrey schools, colleges and universities with students over the age of 13. We offer talks to students and/or staff on a range of subjects including healthy relationships, consent, how to deal with disclosure and recognising the signs of sexual abuse. To book your talk, contact yvonne.isva@rasasc-guildford.org
Our 20-session therapy group , available to those who have self-referred into our adult counselling service. The group allows participants to share their insights and thoughts with others who have been through similar experiences, and learn some coping strategies.

By raising awareness of RASASC and our services this Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, we can reach more survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey, and help them begin to rebuild their lives.

To read more out about all of our services and how to access them, visit our Get Support page , or have a look through our FAQs

Survey into survivors experiences with the police

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 17:38:57 GMT

City, University of London are conducting an anonymous survey into survivors experiences with the police.

If you are a survivor of rape and sexual abuse aged 18+ and the offence was reported to the police, you are invited to take part. Your case may have just started, been ongoing for some time, or be closed. The survey is completely anonymous, and those who respond cannot be identified.

The survey is being conducted by academics at City, University of London, to help understand how the police deal with survivors of rape and sexual assault, and the findings will be used to help the police improve.

You can complete the survey online in your own time and at your own pace. It should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.

February is LGBT+ History Month

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 08:16:28 GMT

February marks LGBT+ History Month, a month-long, annual celebration and remembrance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history

LGBT+ History Month is a month-long, annual celebration and remembrance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history. The month aims to promote equality and diversity, and to mark changes over the years to people’s rights. It is also a time to reflect on the future, and to think about what more can be done to promote inclusivity.

The theme for this year’s LGBTQ+ History Month is #BehindTheLens, showcasing the LGBT+ contribution to cinema and film, incorporating directors, cinematographers, screen writers, producers, animators, costume designers, special effects, make-up artists, lighting directors, musicians and choreographers.

To mark the month, there is a LGBT+ History Month Film Series throughout February and March at the Cinema Museum in London. For details and listings, visit the LGBT+ History Month website .

There is also a calendar of nationwide events to get involved with, and lots of age appropriate information and resources on the LGBT+ History Month website .

Positive progress to date

Bought into effect in 1988 by Margaret Thatcher 's Conservative government, Section 28 was legislative designation for a series of laws across Britain that prohibited the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities, essentially meaning it was illegal to talk about LGBTQ+ issues positively in schools. These laws were in effect from 1988 to 2000 in Scotland and from 1988 to 2003 in England and Wales.

In 2003, Section 28 was repealed, meaning that it was no longer illegal to promote the LGBTQ+ community in a positive way. In the same year, the Criminal Justice Act criminalised homophobic hate crime.

And in 2021, the UK Census included questions about gender identity and sexual orientation for the first time, allowing data to be collected about the number of people within the LGBTQ+ community.

While this is all incredible progress, there is still lots of work to be done, and the queer community still has a lot to fight for.

Support at RASASC

At RASASC we support survivors of all genders over the age of 13 across Surrey. We offer free, confidential and non-judgemental support through our helpline, counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor services.

However you identify, if you need us, we are here. Visit our Get Support page to find out more, and get in touch

Thank you to all our supporters

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 13:11:43 GMT

We achieved some great things in 2022 thanks to our brilliant supporters!

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

2022 was also our 30 ^th year! We were established in 1992 when staff at the local sexual health clinic identified the need for a specialist service to support survivors of rape and sexual abuse. To mark our birthday, we established our 30 for 30 challenge where supporters were asked to do 30 things with the aim of raising £30. It’s not too late if you’d like to get involved with the challenge over Christmas and help raise money towards our vital work!

Some of our key achievements in 2022 include:

Taking on another ISVA to enable us to support more survivors
Our 30 ^th birthday Rock Choir event in March , with three fantastic performances in Guildford, which raised £1,000
Securing funding to purchase new furniture for our offices, giving us a comfortable, professional space for clients and meetings.
Our incredible London Marathon runner, Lauren , who has raised over £5,000 for our work
All the fabulous supporters who took on events for RASASC from Donna who climbed Ben Nevis , to our team of five runners in The Big Half who, between them, raised over £2,000.
Launching our new and updated website , making it easier for clients and survivors to find the information and support they need
Engaging with the local community, and delivering over 35 talks to both students and staff in Surrey schools and colleges on a range of topics including consent and sexual harassment

None of this would be possible without your support, so thank you

Christmas opening

If you need us over Christmas and New Year, we’re still here. Our helpline is open but operating slightly different hours over the Christmas period:

Our helpline returns to its normal hours of Monday – Thursday 7.30pm – 9.30pm from Tuesday, 3 January 2023.

Our offices are also closed on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 December and Monday 2 January 2023 but open as normal outside of this. If you need help and support, please visit the get support page of our website to find out how to get in touch.

We’d like to wish all of our supporters, volunteers, staff and partners a happy and healthy new year, and we look forward to working with you more in 2023!

Christmas opening hours

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 17:20:07 GMT

Our Christmas helpline and office opening hours

Our helpline and offices are open but operating slightly different hours over the Christmas period:

Helpline hours

Our helpline returns to its normal hours of Monday – Thursday 7.30pm – 9.30pm from Tuesday, 3 January 2023.

Office hours

Our offices are also closed on Monday 26, Tuesday 27 December and Monday 2 January 2023 but open as normal outside of this. If you need help and support, please visit the get support page of our website to find out how to get in touch.

Help over Christmas

We know the festive period isn't an easy time for everyone. If you need help and support, the following services are available:

The Samaritans are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call them free on 116 123.
Mind have some tips and advice for the Christmas period for those that find it difficult
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) have a helpline that's open 365 days a year from 5pm - midnight - 0800 58 58 58
There' s a LGBT Christmas Survival Guide from The LGBT Foundation
Safe Havens offer out of hours mental health help and support for people experiencing a mental health crisis. There are five centres across Surrey in Aldershot, Epsom, Guildford, Redhill and Woking which are open 6-11pm, 365 days a year. Each centre also offers a virtual Safe Haven service so you can access support without leaving home. (scroll down the page to the virtual safe havens section for the link to your nearest virtual centre)
And there are various self help guides on our website that can help with flashbacks, grounding, nightmares and panic attacks

However you choose to spend this time of year, please reach out for support if you need it.

Research into online sexual harassment and consent

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 17:21:08 GMT

Researchers are looking for members of the public to take part in research into online sexual harassment and consent.

Researchers from Leeds Trinity University and The University of Salford are conducting the UK-based collaborative study to look at what is understood by individuals about consent and sexual harassment online. Anyone over the age of 18 can take part.

The research aims to provide recommendations that will improve people’s awareness of sexual harassment, help to identify those at risk, and lead to strategies that could be implemented to reduce incidences of sexual harassment.

For more details and to take part, visit the research website.

RASASC Christmas cards for sale!

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:46:56 GMT

Pick up a pack of 10 RASASC Christmas cards for the reduced cost of £2

This Christmas, why not support RASASC through your Christmas cards?

Packs of RASASC Christmas cards available at a reduced cost of £2 for a pack of 10. All funds raised through our Christmas cards will go towards our vital work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

The cards feature a snowy, festive scene with a tree full of robins and winter berries. Inside the greeting reads 'Season's Greetings'

Each pack of 10 is available for £2 plus postage:

To order yours, email: events@rasasc-guildford.org with the number of packs you require and the address to send them to.

Payment including postage can be made through our website as a one-off donation, with the reference 'Christmas cards'. Cards will be dispatched to you second class.

Thank you for supporting RASASC this Christmas

Support RASASC on Giving Tuesday

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 08:30:00 GMT

There are several ways you can support RASASC this Giving Tuesday

Today, Tuesday 29 November, is Giving Tuesday , a day dedicated to doing good and celebrating the work done by charities.

RASASC is the only organisation in Surrey supporting all survivors of rape and sexual abuse. We support everyone, however you identify, over the age of 13 through our helpline , Independent Sexual Violence Advisor and counselling services.

We have been operating for 30 years, after staff at a sexual health clinic identified the need for a specialist service in the area.

What we do

In 2021/22 we provided:

4,068 free counselling sessions
Support for 767 clients through our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service
Advice and support for 1,083 callers to our confidential helpline

All our services are free and non-judgemental. To find out more about our services and how to get in touch, visit our get support page .

How you can support us

RASASC was established in 1992, making this year our 30 ^th year!

You could help us mark our anniversary by taking on a fundraising challenge for our 30 ^th birthday – do 30 things and aim to raise £30 towards our work, it’s that simple! Or check out our events page for how to get a place in an organised event, plus ideas for organising your own event.

There are also several other ways you can support us , from eBay to the Guildford Community Lottery and shopping at Co-op – there are lots of easy ways you can get involved with supporting RASASC!

Volunteer for us

We have an incredible team of volunteers who support our work, from our helpline, our counselling service, our trustees and those that help out at events. Visit our website to view our current volunteering opportunities and get involved.

Donate

We really couldn’t do it without the generosity of our supporters so a huge thank you to all those who have supported us.

However, demand for our services has grown whilst opportunities for funding are becoming increasingly more difficult. If you would like to make a donation in support of our work , you can help to support survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey as they rebuild their lives.

This Giving Tuesday, support RASASC in our vital work, and you will be helping survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey. Thank you

White Ribbon Day 2022

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 08:30:00 GMT

Friday 25 November is White Ribbon Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Friday 25 November is White Ribbon Day, a day dedicated to addressing male violence against women and girls.

Coinciding with the FIFA World Cup, this year’s theme is The Goal, highlighting the 11 traits men and boys can nurture to help create a world of equality and safety for women. All men can join the team to end violence against women and girls, that's #TheGoal

There has never been a better time to come together and start playing as a team to end violence against women and girls.

To find out more about White Ribbon Day and the 11 traits, visit the White Ribbon UK website .

Weekly online group for LBT+ sexual abuse survivors launches

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 16:48:09 GMT

A new online support group for LBT+ women has launched

East London Out Project (elop) have launched ReClaim, a weekly, online support group for LBT+ women.

The online group offers a safe and affirmative support space for lesbian, bisexual and trans women who have experienced sexual abuse, allowing participants to connect and share with others while learning techniques and strategies to manage the impact of trauma on your daily life.

The group meets via Zoom on Wednesdays from 11am-12:30pm. For more information and to get involved, email: mentalhealth@elop.org

For more information on elop and the services they offer, visit their website .

RASASC delighted to be part of the Co-op Local Community Fund

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 11:57:06 GMT

We're delighted to be benefitting from the Co-op Local Community Fund

RASASC are delighted to be part of the Co-op Local Community Fund , helping to raise funds towards our mental wellbeing work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

From now until October 2023, Co-op members can choose to support RASASC by swiping their membership card each time they shop, either in store, or through the app.

For each £1 spent on selected Co-op products, we receive 1p towards our work. You must remember to swipe or scan your membership card every time you shop, otherwise we'll miss out on much-needed funds for our work.

There are several Co-op stores across Surrey , however you can shop in any Co-op store nationwide, and as long as you have selected RASASC as your chosen cause, we will still benefit from your donations as you shop.

To get started and support RASASC, visit our Co-op Local Community Fund cause profile page , sign up and start supporting us today!

Thank you to our trustees this Trustees' Week

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 12:32:50 GMT

A huge thank you to our hardworking trustees this Trustees' Week

A huge thank you to our hardworking trustees this Trustees' Week, who volunteer their time, knowledge and expertise to further our work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

What does a trustee do?

Trustees are volunteers who offer their time and knowledge to share responsibility for governing a charity and directing how it is managed and run.

Charity trustees have six main functions:

Ensuring the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit.
Complying with the charity's governing document and the law.
Acting in the charity's best interests.
Managing charity resources responsibly.
Acting with reasonable care and skill.
Ensuring the charity is accountable.

Meet our trustees!

At RASASC Guildford, we currently have five trustees:

Simon White is our Chair. responsible for convening the board and overseeing its function. Simon is a chartered accountant with 35 years’ experience in the oil industry. He got involved with RASASC's work following the suicide of a family friend during a trial of historic childhood sexual abuse allegations.

Richard Rhydderch is our Vice Chair. Richard is a currently a strategic communications adviser to an NHS trust in London, he also brings experience of working for international welfare charities as well as public sector experience within the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office.

Grace Simmonds had a long career in nursing before becoming a trustee for RASASC, she was also involved with a national charity that offered support and counselling to women facing unintended pregnancy, abortion concerns, miscarriage and baby loss.

Julie Mead is our Treasurer. Julie brings over 15 years’ experience in the banking sector, and she currently works as an equity analyst for a large international bank in London.

Jane Anderson spent most of her career as a policy advisor in number of government departments including the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, and from 2013-2019, she was Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, where she learned about the work of RASASC, leading to her becoming one of our trustees.

We are so grateful to all our trustees for their ongoing support.

To find out more about the role of a charity trustee and what they do, visit GOV.UK.

RASASC awarded funding for trauma counselling work

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 15:57:27 GMT

RASASC has been awarded £9,970 from the National Lottery Community Fund

We're thrilled to have been awarded £9,970 from The National Lottery Community Fund to support our trauma counselling work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

Counselling can help survivors come to terms with the intense trauma of sexual abuse as well as dealing with some of the strong emotions and feelings they may be experiencing.

Dr Susan Stevens, Clinical and Assessor Lead at RASASC Guildford said: “This funding will help us support our most vulnerable clients as they seek to come to terms with what has happened to them.

“Through counselling, we can help them better understand the impact of the trauma they have experienced, as well as helping them to cope with intense emotions and feelings they may be experiencing, and work towards positive change.”

Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund for this support, enabling us to continue to be there for those that need us.

Lauren completes the 2022 London Marathon!

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 15:53:56 GMT

Incredible supporter Lauren completes the 2022 London Marathon in under five hours

Fabulous supporter Lauren has taken on the 2022 London Marathon in aid of RASASC, completing the famous course in style!

Finishing in 4 hours 58 minutes and 34 seconds, thrilled Lauren said: "What an absolute rollercoaster of a day, I can’t believe I actually did that! I hit my goal of sub five hours with 1 minute 26 seconds to spare! What a journey it has been, one of my biggest achievements to date, and one that I will cherish and remember for the rest of my life.

"Thank you so much to everybody that has donated, it means the world to me and makes all the hard work worth it, It’s still not too late to make a donation if you would like to help me reach my target!"

To date, Lauren has raised over £3,500 towards our vital work supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey, however she's set herself the incredible target of raising £4,000. To help her reach her goal, you can donate via her JustGiving page .

Lauren, thank you so much for your support, your incredible efforts will ensure we can reach even more survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey with our counselling, helpline and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services, thank you.

Meet our London Marathon runner!

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 11:45:41 GMT

Meet Lauren, who is taking on the London Marathon in aid of RASASC on 2 October

28-year-old Lauren from Camberley is taking on the mammoth challenge to help raise awareness of RASASC and our work across Surrey, supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse over the age of 13.

Lauren says: “I’ve never done a marathon before, and after doing a half marathon in 2021, I swore I’d never to do it again... yet here I am now training for a full one!

“I am supporting RASASC because I believe the work they do in helping survivors of rape and sexual abuse is truly life changing. I want to raise money to give survivors the opportunity to access services, reclaim their lives and put a middle finger up to those who hurt them.”

We're thrilled Lauren is taking on the challenge of the London Marathon to raise awareness of our helpline, counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services. All RASASC services are free, confidential and non-judgemental. To find our more, visit the Get Support page of our website .

Good luck to Lauren for the 2nd October and thank you so much for supporting RASASC, the whole team at RASASC will be cheering you on!

To sponsor Lauren on her fantastic marathon effort, visit her JustGiving page .

The death of Queen Elizabeth II

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 15:35:52 GMT

The team at RASASC Guildford extend their condolences to The Royal Family

The team at RASASC Guildford were deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.

We were delighted to be awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2018, in recognition of our work supporting all survivors of rape and sexual abuse over the age of 13 across Surrey.

This support from Queen Elizabeth II for our work has greatly helped to raise awareness of RASASC Guildford and our services, and we remain incredibly grateful and humbled by this recognition.

The team at RASASC Guildford wish to extend their condolences to The Royal Family.

RASASC closures, Monday 19 September

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 13:32:30 GMT

The RASASC offices and helpline will be closed on 19 September

Our office and helpline will be closed on Monday, 19 September to mark the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Both our office and helpline will re-open on Tuesday, 20 September. The office will be open from 9am, and our helpline operates from 7.30pm.

Outside of bank holidays, our helpline is open Monday - Thursday evenings between 7.30pm - 9.30pm, for survivors of rape and sexual abuse and their families. Our specially trained volunteers can offer advice and signpost to suitable services. Visit our helpline page to find out more.

For information on RASASC and the services we provide, please visit our website . You can also find answers to many frequently asked questions in our FAQs .

Donna takes on Ben Nevis for RASASC

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 14:26:59 GMT

RASASC supporter Donna is climbing Ben Nevis on Saturday, 10 September in support of RASASC.

Donna on a previous climb

We had a quick chat with Donna, who is about to start a degree apprenticeship in physiotherapy, to learn more about what has led her to undertake this incredible challenge!

Have you ever done anything like this before?

“In 2006 I went on a trip of a lifetime to Ecuador, where we climbed a number of volcanoes, the most notable being Cayambe and Cotopaxi, which sparked my love of the mountains and the freedom it gives. This will be the second of the three UK peaks I have done, as I climbed Snowden in 2018, so there’s just Scafell Pike to go!”

What have you been doing to train for your challenge?

“I was recently in Ireland for a friend’s wedding, so I took the opportunity to climb Croagh Patrick in County Mayo in training for this challenge. Otherwise, I have been doing yoga, trying to take long walks when I can and practicing my mountain climbers at home!"

What are your hopes for the day, do you have a set time you wish to complete the climb in?

“All I’m hoping for is good weather to be able to enjoy the views! I'll be taking my time and taking it all in and stopping for plenty of snacks. And then I’m planning to have a nice dip in the Loch and hot tub at our accommodation afterwards!"

Why have you decided to support RASASC?

“RASASC has been a great support for me, all the help from my ISVA was invaluable. I really don't know what I would have done without this, and without having the peer support from the groups provided. Thank you for all your support, and I hope this can be used to help others build the confidence to seek help.”

You can support Donna on her incredible challenge by visiting her fundraising page and making a donation.

All money raised from Donna’s challenge will be used to support survivors of rape and sexual abuse over the age of 13 across Surrey through our helpline, counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services.

Good luck Donna, and thank you for your support!

Team RASASC conquer The Big Half

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 13:16:48 GMT

Congratulations to our five amazing runners for completing The Big Half!

Huge congratulations to all five of our incredible runners who took on The Big Half on behalf of RASASC yesterday, your incredible efforts will change lives for survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey, thank you.

There’s still time to sponsor our fabulous runners, Andy , Chris , Nathalie , Adam and Eleanor . All money raised will be used to help survivors on their journey to recovery through our helpline, counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services.

All RASASC services are free, confidential and non-judgmental, and we support survivors of all genders over the age of 13 who have been raped, sexually abused or had an unwanted sexual experience.

If you would like to support our work by taking part in an event for RASASC, we have spaces in the London Landmarks Half Marathon in April 2023, or you could take on your own 30 for 30 Challenge to mark our 30 ^th anniversary.

To find out more about both of these events and how to get involved, visit our events page .

RASASC launches first Crowdfunding project to support young survivors

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 14:06:48 GMT

To help support young survivors of rape and sexual abuse, RASASC have launched their first Crowdfunder

As we start to come out of the pandemic, there are many challenges to address, one of which is that charity fundraising is now much more challenging. This is also at a time when demand for our services has increased.

We have seen a significant increase (47%) in young survivors of rape and sexual abuse aged 13-25, coming to us for help. To help address this, we have taken the plunge and launched Young Survivors , our first ever Crowdfunding project.

We are aiming to raise £26,880 to ensure we can support an additional 30-35 young survivors of rape and sexual abuse through our counselling, helpline and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services.

This is where we need your help. Could you help us spread the word, and share our project, or pledge a small donation if you’re able to, to ensure we can support more young survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey?

To find out more about our Young Survivors project or to pledge a donation, simply visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/young-survivors - or scan the below QR code - and help us reach more young survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

Thank you

Scan the above QR code to access our Young Survivors Crowdfunder

The Survivors Trust shine spotlight on RASASC

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 11:11:17 GMT

The Survivors Trust, the national agency for rape and sexual abuse services, has helped to highlight RASASC and our work

In a piece on their website , The Survivors Trust have shone a highlight on the work of RASASC over the past 30 years, as well as calling out for supporters to join in with our 30 for 30 Challenge .

The Survivors Trust, of which RASASC is a member, is the largest umbrella agency for specialist rape and sexual abuse services in the UK, providing infrastructure support to its 124 member agencies, who in turn, support over 80,000 individual survivors each year.

2022 marks 30 years since RASASC Guildford was established, during which time, lots has changed, however the need for the services RASASC provides is still just as great. In 2021/22 we provided 4,068 free counselling sessions, supported 767 clients through our ISVA service, and took 1,083 calls on our confidential helpline.

RASASC Chief Executive Officer, Lesley Devonport says: “RASASC has grown and changed greatly since we were established in 1992 and in that time, there have been challenges we could never have foreseen, notably the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which forced us to adapt our services to ensure we could continue to support survivors remotely.

“There has also been, in recent years, a swell of coverage in the media around high-profile rape and sexual abuse cases, which has bought with it an increased demand for services that offer support for survivors, such as ours.”

To read the article in full, visit The Survivors Trust website.

Brother and sister team take on The Big Half for RASASC

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 15:02:19 GMT

A brother and sister team are taking on The Big Half on 4 September in aid of RASASC Guildford.

Adam and Eleanor Abrahams

Adam and Eleanor Abrahams, both experienced runners, are taking on the challenge to raise awareness of the services provided by RASASC for survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

RASASC Guildford support anyone over the age of 13 across Surrey who has been affected by rape, sexual abuse or an unwanted sexual experience.

Adam has previously run several marathons and three half marathons, so taking on The Big Half for RASASC should be a breeze!

47-year-old Adam from Cranleigh said: “I wanted to give a charity that's local to me some recognition and support. Personally, I think it is wonderful that there is an organisation like RASASC that people can go to anonymously for help and support after experiencing intense trauma.

“Running is great where I live. I can jog without seeing a car or crossing a road for 14 miles along the old Horsham to Guildford rail track. I'm not really worried about speed for this race, I just want to enjoy it and have fun.”

Adam’s sister Eleanor is also a seasoned runner, having completed two half marathons, the Brighton Marathon, and twice taking part in Endure 24.

Teacher Eleanor is looking forward to running alongside her brother again, like they used to when they ran together at Haslemere Border Athletics Club.

She says “My sister-in-law got me involved with RASASC Guildford, as she works for the charity, and It’s a cause hugely worth supporting. I am nearly 50, so I’m making the most of every sporting activity my body allows me to do - in my head I am still 35!

“I am aiming to complete the Big Half in two and a half hours as I think it will be hot, and Adam and I will be chatting!

“I have done quite a few events around London, and I always enjoy having the run of the roads and seeing parts of London in a different light. Knowing people are sponsoring me is always a motivator, the event itself is the easy part!”

To sponsor Adam and Eleanor, please visit their fundraising pages:

Eleanor: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/whyevernot

Adam: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/adam-abrahams

Money raised will go towards RASASC Guildford’s vital work supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse through their counselling, helpline and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor services.

Meet Team RASASC, taking on The Big Half

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 16:02:43 GMT

Meet our five superstars making up Team RASASC, taking on The Big Half in a months’ time!

Our team of five; Andy, Nathalie, Adam, Chris and Eleanor are all taking on the half marathon on Sunday, 4 September to raise funds and awareness to help support survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

And this year, Team RASASC contains not one, but two pairs of siblings, brothers Andy and Chris, and brother and sister team Adam and Eleanor!

Andy, a partner at Replay Golf in Windlesham, is taking on the challenge to raise awareness for RASASC, and to see if he can beat big brother Chris, who took on the challenge for RASASC in 2021!

Sponsor Andy through his fundraising page.

Chris, Andy’s brother is returning to support RASASC thanks to a family connection that works for the charity.

He’s hoping to beat last years’ time of two hours and three minutes and complete the half marathon course in under two hours.

Good luck Chris! Sponsor him here .

Our next sibling pairing are Adam and Eleanor. 47-year-old Adam said: “I wanted to give a charity that's local to me some recognition and support. I think it’s wonderful that there’s an organisation like RASASC that offers help and support for people suffering intense trauma.”

You can show support for Adam by sponsoring him through his JustGiving page .

Sister Eleanor, is looking forward to running alongside her brother again, like they used to when they ran together at Haslemere Border Athletics Club. She said: “RASASC is a cause hugely worth supporting. I am aiming to complete the Big Half in two and a half hours as I think it will be hot, and Adam and I will be chatting!"

Sponsor Eleanor here .

And our final runner Nathalie said “This is an incredible opportunity to support a cause that is truly close to my heart, while also allowing me to partake in the two things I am most passionate about: advocacy and running!

Thank you to RASASC for taking me on board, I will do everything I can between now and the day of the race to raise both funds and awareness.” You can sponsor Nathalie here.

A huge thank you to all five of our incredible Team RASASC runners for taking on The Big Half in support of RASASC. We know all the hard work and training that goes into getting you to the starting line - as well as over it, and your amazing fundraising will ensure we can support even more survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

Thank you.

If you would like to do an event for RASASC, check out our events page for details of upcoming events and how you can get involved!

Survivor takes on The Big Half for RASASC

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 14:36:09 GMT

Supporter Nathalie is taking on the challenge of The Big Half in support of RASASC

A sexual trauma survivor is taking on The Big Half on 4 September in aid of RASASC Guildford.

25-year-old Nathalie is taking on the challenge in order to highlight our work supporting all survivors of rape and sexual abuse over the age of 13 across Surrey.

Nathalie says: “I am supporting RASASC as a survivor of sexual trauma, to help fight for change and elevate the voices of those who have been too afraid to speak.

“The road from surviving to thriving has involved not only accepting the past but also facing it head-on and using my learned experiences for the benefit of others. Even if change turns out to be minimal, at least I can fall asleep easily knowing that I have done everything that I possibly can.

“This is an incredible opportunity to support a cause that is truly close to my heart, while also allowing me to partake in the two things I am most passionate about: advocacy and running!”

Nathalie, who works as an elected student officer trustee at Imperial College Union, has already completed the Ashbourne half Marathon as part of her training, and is aiming for a sub-two-hour time for The Big Half.

She says: “I completed the Ashbourne Half Marathon in July in just over two hours. It was incredibly hilly, with a 200+ m elevation gain that happened twice! Even though my quads were left feeling sore for several days afterwards, it was a challenging and fun race that helped my preparation for the Big Half.

“Thank you to RASASC for taking me on board, I will do everything I can between now and the day of the race to raise both funds and awareness.”

Nathalie has also held a bake sale at Imperial College Union in aid of RASASC to boost her fundraising, raising an incredible £429.96 in one day!

Nathalie manning her bake sale stall, which raised £429.96 for RASASC

To follow Nathalie’s progress and sponsor her efforts, visit her fundraising page.

London Landmarks public ballot now open!

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 11:51:26 GMT

The public ballot for entry to next years London Landmarks Half Marathon is now open!

The public ballot for the London Landmarks Half Marathon 2023 is now open, from today until next Thursday, 14 July.

This fantastic event is the only half marathon to run right through the heart of London, showcasing our capital's history while also providing unique entertainment along the route to keep you going!

If you are successful in the ballot, we would be delighted if you wanted to join Team RASASC, running to raise awareness and support for survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey. Contact us at events@rasasc-guildford.org to join the team.

To enter the public ballot, visit: www.llhm.co.uk/ballot

Confidential helpline open to all survivors aged 13+

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 10:49:57 GMT

Did you know our helpline is open to all survivors aged 13+?

Our confidential helpline is open to all survivors of rape, sexual abuse or unwanted sexual experiences, aged 13+, and supports anyone, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or disability.

It's not always easy to reach out for help, but our specially trained helpline volunteers can offer support and advice, as well as signposting to services that can help. Or they can just listen, if you need them too.

Our helpline is open four evenings a week, from Monday to Thursday, 7.30pm - 9.30pm on 01483 546400.

Please call if you need to, we're here to listen.

Run for RASASC in The Big Half

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 10:37:27 GMT

Could you take on The Big Half for RASASC in our 30th year?

Could you take on The Big Half on Sunday, 4 September for RASASC? We have two official event places left to fill. All we ask is that you commit to raising a minimum of £200 towards our vital work supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

And if you need any extra motivation, 2022 also marks our 30th birthday, you could set yourself the target of raising £300 in honour of our 30th year!

We will provide you with a RASASC branded technical t-shirt to wear on the day, plus plenty of hints, tips and encouragement to support you on your way to the finish line.

If you would like to get involved and secure one of our two official RASASC places, email us on: events@rasasc-guildford.org today!

Ministry of Justice survey seeks survivors opinions

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 13:43:50 GMT

The Ministry of Justice want to hear from survivors in a new survey aimed at identifying barriers to support.

The Ministry of Justice have launched a survey to find out about barriers survivors of rape and sexual violence face in accessing support, and what type of support best meets their needs.

They are looking for views from adult survivors (aged 18+), regardless of whether they have reported the abuse or had any support.

The findings from the survey will help inform the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund to ensure it best meets the needs of survivors.

To have your say, please complete the survey before it closes on Monday, 18 July at 9am.

Men's Health Week

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 14:23:01 GMT

Men's Health Week runs from 13-19 June, encouraging men to look after their wellbeing

Today marks the start of Men’s Health Week 2022 , encouraging men to look after their physical and mental health.

At RASASC we support all genders, however you identify, who have been raped, sexually abused or had an unwanted sexual experience.

Often, men can be more reluctant to come forward due to perceived social stigmas. At RASASC, all our services are free, and offer confidential, non-judgemental support and advice.

Our confidential helpline is open four evenings a week, from Monday to Thursday between 7.30pm-9.30pm on 01483 546400. We also offer counselling for adults , young people (aged 13-17) and families as well as one on one support from our Independent Sexual Violence Advisors .

If you need us, please get in touch: 01483 568000

High Sheriff of Surrey visits RASASC

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 13:26:01 GMT

The High Sheriff of Surrey, Christopher Critchlow visited RASASC on 8 June.

The High Sheriff of Surrey, Christopher Critchlow, paid a visit to RASASC on Wednesday, 8 June to learn more about RASASC and the services we provide.

The High Sheriff and his wife Wendy, visited the RASASC offices and met with staff from several teams across Fundraising, Communications, Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and our Chief Executive Officer to learn more about the challenges faced in supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

Thank you to him and his office or taking the time to meet with us as part of his remit to support agencies tackling violence against women and girls.

RASASC support anyone over the age of 13 in Surrey who has been raped, sexually abused or had an unwanted sexual experience.

Thank you to all our volunteers this Volunteers' Week

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 08:00:05 GMT

Thank you to all our fantastic volunteers this Volunteers' Week!

Volunteers Week (1-7 June) is a chance to thank all our fantastic volunteers for everything they do for RASASC and our clients.

A huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteers across our helpline and counselling services, our events volunteers, our trustees, facilitators and our handyman for everything they do to ensure we can continue to be there for survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

We couldn't do it without you.

RASASC's Chief Executive Officer Lesley, has a special message for you all below:

Consultation on draft coercive control guidance

sharon@kangaroouk.com (Sharon Keevins) — Wed, 25 May 2022 10:22:17 GMT

Your chance to have a say in a consultation on guidance for controlling or coercive behaviour

The Home Office have opened a consultation to help shape the draft statutory guidance on controlling or coercive behaviour.

The guidance will cover:

information on what controlling or coercive behaviour is and how to identify it
guidance to police and criminal justice agencies on where the offence will apply
examples of evidence that can support identifying, evidencing and charging the offence
how to reduce risk to victims, including using protection orders, supporting the victim, and responding to perpetrator’s behaviour

The guidance is primarily aimed at police and criminal justice agencies in England and Wales

However, the guidance is also relevant to organisations and agencies working with victims or perpetrators of domestic abuse, and to those dealing with the consequences of domestic abuse.

To input into the consultation, visit GOV.UK . The consultation is open from now until Saturday, 25 June.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Fri, 06 May 2022 11:32:49 GMT

9 - 15 May is Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year's theme is loneliness

9-15 May marks Mental Health Awareness Week , and this year's theme is loneliness.

Rape and sexual abuse can have a huge impact on your mental health and wellbeing, and can leave you feeling lonely and isolated.

You're not alone, we can help.

We support anyone over the age of 13 in Surrey who has been raped, sexually abused or had an unwanted sexual experience.

We offer adult, youth and family counselling, one-on-one support from our team of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) as well as a national telephone helpline offering advice and support four evenings a week. Visit our Get Support page for an overview of all our services, plus details of how to get in touch

We also have a selection of self help resources offering tips for mental wellbeing and some grounding exercises you can try.

For more support and tips to help you look after your mental health, visit the Mental Health Foundation's website.

Sentencing Council open consultation

Wed, 04 May 2022 09:37:47 GMT

Sentencing Council open consultation into perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation

The Sentencing Council has published a consultation paper on draft guidelines for offences of perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation. They are seeking views to help inform the final guidelines.

They are seeking views on:

principal factors that make any of the offences included within the draft guidelines more or less serious
additional factors that should influence the sentence
types and lengths of sentence that should be passed
issues relating to disparity of sentencing and broader matters relating to equality and diversity that the guidelines should address

To take part and have your views heard, join in with the consultation by 22 June 2022.

Helpline closed on Bank Holiday Monday

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 12:22:29 GMT

Our helpline will be closed on Monday 2 May

Our helpline for survivors of rape and sexual abuse and their families, will be closed on bank holiday Monday, 2 May, re-opening on Tuesday, 3 May at 7.30pm.

Helpline support over bank holiday Monday is available from:

The Survivors Trust on 0808 801 0818 (open from 10am – 1pm)

Rape Crisis South London on 0808 802 9999 (open from 12pm-2:30pm and 7pm – 9.30pm)

There are also some self help resources on our website that may be useful.

Our helpline will open as normal from Tuesday, 3 May on 01483 546400, between 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Take on RASASC's 30 for 30 Challenge!

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 15:53:12 GMT

Help us celebrate our 30th year by raising £30!

2022 marks our 30 years since we were founded. To help us celebrate, we’d like to invite you to take on our 30 for 30 challenge!

The idea is you do 30 things with the aim of raising £30 for RASASC. What you choose to do is up to you - score 30 goals, run 30 laps of your garden, make 30 cakes, run for 30 minutes, wash 30 cars – the important thing is to get sponsored for doing it, and to aim to raise £30 towards our vital work with survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey.

Have a look at our dedicated 30 for 30 website page for more information and ideas, plus links to our downloadable sponsorship form and JustGiving page.

You can do your events at any point during 2022, so there's plenty of time to get involved.

For any questions or to let us know about your event, email us at events@rasasc-guildford.org .

Good luck!

Bank holiday helpline closure

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 14:37:53 GMT

Please note our helpline will be closed on Monday, 18 April

Our helpline for survivors of rape and sexual abuse and their families, will be closed on bank holiday Monday, 18 April, re-opening on Tuesday, 19 April at 7.30pm.

Helpline support over bank holiday Monday is available from:

The Survivors Trust on 0808 801 0818 (open from 10am – 1pm)

Rape Crisis South London on 0808 802 9999 (open from 12pm-2:30pm and 7pm – 9.30pm)

RASASC’s helpline will open as normal from Tuesday, 19 April on 01483 546400, between 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Surrey PCC visits RASASC

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 14:22:36 GMT

RASASC were delighted to host a visit from the PCC for Surrey

RASASC were delighted to host a visit from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, Lisa Townsend and her colleague Damian Markland, Policy & Commissioning Lead for Victims on Thursday, 7 April.

The visit gave Lisa and Damian an opportunity to understand our plans for moving forward as we come out of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the challenges faced by clients using our services, and learning what we hope to achieve in 2022/23.

By visiting and understanding our work, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey will have a better understanding of the needs of survivors of rape and sexual abuse. In turn this raises awareness of our work to other ministers, helping them understand some of the huge challenges faced by charities such as RASASC in delivering vital services in these uncertain times.

To understand more about the PCC for Surrey and their role, visit the website of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey .

Pictured L to R: Lesley Devonport, RASASC CEO, Lisa Townsend, PCC for Surrey, Caroline Coates RASASC Fundraising Manager, and Damian Markland, Policy & Commissioning Lead for Victims.

Rock Choir help mark RASASC’s 30th birthday in style

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:20:32 GMT

Rock Choir Guildford, Godalming and Farnham help us celebrate our 30 ^th birthday in style!

The wonderful members of Guildford, Godalming and Farnham Rock Choir gave up their time in March to help us celebrate our 30 ^th birthday in style.

On Saturday, 19 March, around 200 members of the choir came along to support RASASC with three special performances in Guildford to help raise awareness of who we are and the support we provide for survivors of rape and sexual abuse.

Starting off with a morning performance in Tunsgate Quarter, the choir then held a surprise lunchtime flash mob and performance in Guildford High Street, before finishing the day with a performance in The Friary Shopping Centre. Altogether, the three performances raised an incredible £988.63 towards our vital work.

Lesley Devonport, RASASC’s Chief Executive Officer said: “Since we began in 1992, progress has been made in how survivors are treated and believed, and in availability and access to essential support services. However, there is still lots to do. Recent, high-profile cases have kept the issue in the forefront of the news agenda, which has encouraged survivors to come forward and seek help – something we would always urge them to do.

“But we can’t do it alone, and we are delighted that Rock Choir came out in support of RASASC to help highlight the work we do. The incredible amount raised will make a huge difference to survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Surrey, thank you.”

You can view some pictures and videos from the day on the Guildford, Godalming and Farnham Rock Choir Facebook page .

RASASC support survivors of all genders over the age of 13 across Surrey who have been raped, sexually abused or had an unwanted sexual experience. For more information and to get in touch, visit our website , where you can also make a donation towards our vital work.

Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week

sharon@kangaroouk.com (Sharon Keevins) — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 09:04:43 GMT

This week (7-13 February) is Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week. To mark this, we’re sharing facts all week on social media about RASASC and the services we provide:

Our services aren’t just for women, we support anyone over the age of 13 across Surrey who has been raped, sexually abused or had an unwanted sexual experience.
We will support you regardless of whether you go to the police. Whether you decide to report or not is your choice. We are here to support and advise you and help ensure your safety.
We will support you if the rape or abuse was recent, non recent or childhood sexual abuse.
2022 marks our 30th birthday. We have 30 years of experience working with survivors of rape and sexual abuse.
Our helpline staff and qualified counsellors are all specially trained volunteers
Due to coronavirus we adapted all our services to operate remotely, ensuring we could still be there for those that need us.
Did you know we offer support to families of survivors as well as the survivor themselves?

We support survivors of all genders over the age of 13 from across Surrey, who have been raped, sexually abused or have had an unwanted sexual experience. If you need to get in touch, visit our get support page for details of how to access our services.

You can find us on Facebook at @RASASCGuildford, and on Twitter at @HelpRASASC

Thank you for your support in 2021

sharon@kangaroouk.com (Sharon Keevins) — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 09:02:15 GMT

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

While no one could have imagined there would still be a need to deliver our services remotely at the end of 2021, thanks to the adaptability and commitment of our team, we have continued to be able to support clients and survivors through remote versions of our counselling, ISVA and helpline services.

If you need us over Christmas and New Year, we’re still here. Our helpline is operating slightly different opening hours, and will be closed on 27 & 28 December 2021, as well as 3 January 2022. Full details of the Christmas opening hours for our helpline plus other useful numbers can be found at: bit.ly/HelplineChristmas .

Our office team won’t be working on the Christmas bank holidays: Monday, 27 December, Tuesday, 28 December and Monday, 3 January 2022, 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 to all of you for your support throughout 2021, we look forward to achieving more with your continued support in 2022.

From all at RASASC.

Government announce new measures for safety of women and girls

sharon@kangaroouk.com (Sharon Keevins) — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 12:56:58 GMT

The Government has added new measures aimed at keeping women and girls safer, to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

The changes include more time for victims of domestic abuse to make a report and making a specific offence for taking non-consensual photographs or videos of breastfeeding mothers, which is to be punishable by up to two years in prison.

The change in law aims to protect mums from being harassed no matter where they choose to breastfeed.

The measures follow on from amendments in December, which clarified domestic abuse and sexual offences as serious violent crimes that public bodies have a legal duty to work together to prevent. This means domestic abuse and sexual offences are to be treated as seriously as knife crime and homicide.

To read the press release on the latest amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, visit the GOV.UK website