Sexual Assault Referral Centres or SARCs
are here for anybody who's been sexually assaulted
at any point in their life
even if it happened many years ago.
When it happened
I felt
I felt isolated.
I felt alone.
I felt like I was the only one.
You know I thought
boys don't get abused
and how wrong was I?
I were that paranoid I didn't even dare like go on to Google
on my phone or anything.
Knowing in case anyone's seen my search history.
So, I never knew what support was available.
From the moment you get in touch
however it is you’ve found out about us
you’re in complete control
and you have choices at every stage
right down to whether or not you’d like a cup of tea
or coffee when you arrive.
We’re here so that you feel safe
listened to and supported.
And we provide confidential, non-judgemental care and advice
so that you can make informed decisions about what happens next.
For me personally when I had my experience in a SARC
I arrived feeling really
chaotic
but then I was in a room one to one with the professional
and although I was asked lots of questions
the person who did it
did it in a way that was very
felt very supportive and
almost loving and
and created a really wonderful space where
everything outside that room
seemed to kind of
slow down and
fade.
There are three main elements to what we do.
Firstly, and most crucially is that we’re here to support you.
We’ll talk through options
and we can make any and all onward referrals that you might need
for example for counselling
or perhaps details of a local support group.
I figured out that I’d been living numb
reason being because I was blocking out so much but
it can't be no other way.
If we block out bad
we block out good.
If we block out hate
we block out love.
Our body and our brain cannot differentiate
it was protecting myself to not feel that hurt
but by doing that I was also deflecting the love and the good.
I now have the coping mechanisms in place
to deal with my dark days when they are here.
We’ve then got the medical element
if your assault was recent we can provide any emergency medicine
and contraception that might be needed.
And you also have the option for a forensic medical examination
so that we can document what happened and recover evidence.
I remember lying on the table in this gown
and all I could think was
am I really here, is this
happening?
And the crisis worker, she then said something like
“I'm a really good hand-holder so
you know if you want my hand just reach out”
and those are the bits that I really remember
it's those moments of
just really feeling
safe.
And finally, if you choose to
we can help you understand what reporting to the police would involve
and be with you throughout this process
if you decide to.
But there's no expectation
or pressure to report.
Everything's going to be in your own time
and all the decisions will be yours.
It’s powerful stuff
walking into a safe space where you feel supported
believed.
The healing journey is a process that belongs to each and every one of us
when we feel ready.