Henry Smith MP has helped launch the new Rape Crisis Surrey and Sussex (RCSAS) centre in Crawley, as part of the Ministry of Justice’s ongoing funding commitment to expand specialist Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) organisations across the country.

A member of the established VAWG organisation Rape Crisis (England and Wales), RCSAS is an independent support hub set up by the team behind Rape Crisis’s flagship centre, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) in South London.

Henry said;

“I’m pleased to see the launch of the Rape Crisis Surrey and Sussex centre in Crawley funded by the Government.

“It’s important that female survivors of sexual abuse are able to come here to receive help, in a women-only environment, with access to specialised counselling, as well as an outreach service and other programs.”

The centre in Crawley, like its south London counterpart, will be an anonymous, woman-only centre, offering female survivors of sexual abuse access to specialised counselling, and an independent advocacy program as well as an outreach service and educational bracket providing accredited training on rape and childhood sexual abuse including on-demand training for counsellors, schools and other organisations.

In addition, the centre’s advocacy service will support women thinking of reporting abuse to the police, and those who are currently engaged with the criminal justice system.

The centre’s outreach service will provide support for hard-to-reach women such as those living within the travelling community, women of certain ethnic minorities and women working in the sex industry.

Yvonne Traynor, Chief Executive Officer of RASASC South London commented;

“The RCSAS Crawley centre exists to fill the gaps existing in the current survivor support network in Surrey and Sussex.

“It aims to bring expert services to any female survivors of sexual abuse in the local area - including those hard-to-reach-groups.

“As a member of Rape Crisis (England and Wales), RCSAS adheres to their occupational standards of service delivery. As such the centre is already a British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Accredited Counselling Centre.

“We have employed a team of trained female counsellors all of whom are experienced in working with survivors of sexual violence. The service offers one-to-one and group therapy sessions that can last up to a year.

“Survivors are at the heart of what we do. We listen, we believe and we are non-judgmental. Expanding our services is an attempt to make sure all survivors’ needs are catered for.”

As part of the RCSAS expansion, the centre will be extending the National Rape Crisis Helpline, which provides indispensable emotional support for women and girls who have survived sexual violence.

The helpline, 0808 802 9999, is open 365 days a year from 12 to 2.30pm and 7.00 to 9.30pm.

External links:
Ministry of Justice 
Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre
Rape Crisis England & Wales