the low down on rape crisis

So, what do Rape Crisis do?

I have a little summary of their work here. But I want to explore the details to explain why they’re a worthwhile charity to support.

I know Rape Crisis is a valuable charity (its why I’m cycling across the US for them!) but I want to demonstrate their importance to you too.

So, what do Rape Crisis do?

With ~40 employees they provide two direct services for the public 1) a 24/7 helpline for survivors of sexual assault and rape and, 2) a wealth of information for individuals wanting to get help, or be informed on their website. 

Their website alone reaches 15 - 20,000 people every week and their 24/7 helpline receives outstanding feedback 

“Amazing. Super helpful and supportive. A safe space was created and at all hours of the day. This is what people need. I can't thank the volunteer who helped me enough.”

and

“I was extremely grateful that even though I am a male victim of rape, I was treated with courtesy and understanding. Your advisor made it very clear from the beginning that me being a male had no bearing on the advice and help I would be offered, which I was very thankful for.”

As a membership organisation, Rape Crisis England & Wales also supports 39 member centres. They provide training, secure funding, and build capacity around emerging trends for these local rape crisis centers. This is done without membership payments so all funding can go to service users. Data from each of these centres is fed back to inform national activities.

At a national level, the work Rape Crisis does can be split into three main areas: policy, communication, and education. 

Policy

The policy lead for Rape Crisis sits on 25 working groups. This means experts' concerns for survivors are voiced in spaces where law and policy are shaped. Four key areas of activity are currently justice, health, education, and immigration. Their current actions include:

• informing the coming Victims Bill

  (to #keepcounsellingconfidential & sexual and domestic violence distinct form each other)

• Securing funding for crisis centres from the Ministry of Justice

  (+ fund independent sexual violence advocates to support survivors through reporting)

• Building support for individuals seeking refuge from sexual violence

• Pushing Operation Soteria

  (central to the UK Government’s End-to-End Rape Review)

These points of contact with government and policy are crucial. Demands for Rape Crisis services is increasing, with a 14k long waiting list across the 39 member centres. So sustainable funding, supportive policies, and accurate evaluation of our justice system is imperative to provide support to these people.  

Education

Relationship and sexual health education is mandatory in schools.  However, infrastructure to respond to incidents and safeguarding concerns is lacking, so young survivors cannot be supported.

There’s no prevention without provisions. 

This means consistent policies across schools to prevent, and cope, with sexual offences involving students. 

Currently, there is no formal policy in place to stop survivors sharing classrooms with perpetrators.  Instead parents are fighting on a case-by-case basis for safe spaces for their children to attend school after rape and sexual assault. 

Alongside this Rape Crisis provide information and statistics on sexual violence to teach individuals and institutions about the realities of these crimes.

Communication

Through public facing media, Rape Crisis battle against rape culture by dispelling myths, presenting accurate facts, and collaborating with entertainment companies. This has included working on Call The Midwife and Hollyoaks to represent survivors and policing realistically. 

The keystone of this messaging is to focus on the perpetrator and stand against victim-blaming. 

So what do they do?

a lot. 

But still demand is high and funding is inadequate. 

This is why the risk and challenge of cycling across the US solo is worth it. Something big needs to change to help survivors of sexual assault and rape, and Rape Crisis is pushing for those changes. So I’m doing something big to support them. 

Please go to my JustGiving page or click the donate button to support the work Rape Crisis do <3

If you can’t give money right now, please send this blog to someone you know to show survivors aren’t alone

(+ see if they’ll donate too!)

Thank you so much for reading :) Together we can make our society a safer place for everyone