Rape Crisis England & Wales

This is a really powerful and important report. I'm proud of my colleagues and our sisters at Imkaan for shining a light on the devastating and unacceptable experiences of women and children seeking asylum in the UK. Please read and share ➡️ https://bit.ly/3AvSgB8

Today sees the launch of our joint report with Imkaan, #NotSafeHere, which reveals how the UK asylum system is re-traumatising women and girls who have fled rape and sexual abuse and is putting them at risk of further harm. 📝 https://bit.ly/3YG6Ii7 The women we spoke to in the report told us: ❌ They do not feel safe, physically or psychologically, while living in Home Office provided asylum accommodation. ❌ They have faced further sexual violence and threats of sexual violence while living in asylum accommodation. ❌ That they are being forced to share spaces – including bedrooms – with strangers. 📣 Refugee and asylum-seeking survivors deserve better. We are calling for urgent changes, starting with appropriate and safe accommodation. Can you show solidarity with women and children living in asylum accommodation? Please read and share our report: https://bit.ly/3YG6Ii7 #NotSafeHere #RapeCrisis #Imkaan

✨ This November we're celebrating 50 years of the Rape Crisis movement. Over the month we'll be sharing information about our herstory, as well as our hopes for the future. ℹ️ In 1974 a group of around 40 women met in London to discuss the ongoing rape crisis and what to do about it. That meeting eventually led to the establishment of the UK's first ever Rape Crisis centre in England, which opened its doors and helpline on 15 May 1976. Since then, an entire network of Rape Crisis centres has been established by passionate groups of women around the country. Today, Rape Crisis England & Wales, the national organisation representing this network, has 38 member centres in England and Wales. ✊🏼 And we continue to fight – because now, even 50 years on, politicians and public services are still failing victims and survivors.

This Trustees Week we'd like to take a moment to recognise the dedicated feminist women who volunteer their time to help shape the direction of Rape Crisis England & Wales and Rape Crisis centres across the network. Their guidance, expertise and commitment to supporting survivors and ending sexual violence is invaluable and keeps the Rape Crisis movement moving.

"We welcome the Government’s commitment to halving violence against women and girls in a decade, and between us, there is immense will and skill and commitment to helping to achieve that, but we cannot even contemplate taking a seat at the table unless we know we can keep our doors open and our lights on." ℹ️ Read the full statement: https://ow.ly/vUAE50TX3aJ

The number of rapes recorded by the police has risen again. The vast majority of rapes and sexual assaults never get reported to the police so it is encouraging that more sexual violence and abuse victims and survivors are coming forward to seek support and criminal justice. The rise in reporting to the police has been paralleled by the unprecedented levels of need and demand for our specialist Rape Crisis services in recent years. There are now over 14,000 people waiting for support at a Rape Crisis centre. Long-term, sustainable funding for specialist sexual violence support and advocacy services like ours is more urgently needed than ever. [Statistics are from the Home Office and the Office for National Statistics. Read more: https://bit.ly/40k1hru]

🏃🏽♀️🌟 We're looking for a superstar supporter to take on the #LondonMarathon and raise money for our vital work! If you can commit to raising £2000, we'd love to hear from you. 📧 Get in touch: fundraising@rapecrisis.org.uk

🆕 A new national campaign, #WhenYouAreReady, has been launched to encourage victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation to reach out for support. 1 in 3 adult survivors of child sexual abuse only tell someone about what happened to them later in life. It's never too late to seek help. Read more about the campaign and watch the full film here: https://lnkd.in/ekgJwseY ℹ️ Our specialist Rape Crisis centres provide life-changing and in some cases life-saving, support to victims and survivors of child rape and sexual abuse. You can also contact our 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line for free and confidential emotional support. Get help: https://bit.ly/3YeE875

"There are no circumstances under which we will ever accept the re-traumatisation of survivors by the systems that are meant to protect them." Our CEO, Ciara Bergman, spoke to The Guardian about the changes needed in the criminal justice system. https://ow.ly/veZU50TKzqC

"If justice delayed is justice denied, then English courts are regularly denying justice." Since the release of our #BreakingPoint report, the situation in the Crown Court has got steadily worse. All the while victims and survivors are stuck in limbo, some waiting years for a trial date, unable to move on from what happened or start to heal. ℹ️ Read our recommendations for change: https://bit.ly/3BGGNiq https://ow.ly/nrN250TKu8i