GCRC PERFORMANCE AND IMPACT REPORT 2023 2024

IMPACT REPORT

2023/24

NOVEMBER 2024

PERFORMANCE &

Content warning

The contents of this report contain information on rape and sexual abuse and caution should be exercised when reading and sharing information from it.

Thank you

To those who work with us, fund us, support us, stand with and up for us.

We would especially like to thank those women and girls who trust us with their healing.

CONTENTS

Introduction Our operating context Our performance Heal to Thrive Project Spotlight The Fair Play Project Spotlight Our impact

The Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered in Scotland, company no SC127793.

A Scottish Charity, no SCO06595.

Headlines from 2023/24

3,057 survivors supported

2,818 female survivors

14 to 85 years old

96% knew the perpetrator or they held a position of

trust with them

49% have a diagnosed mental health disability

Sexual abuse lasted on average 1 year before

reaching out for help

13 main referral pathways

Our Operating Context

Available statistics of relevance at Scottish-wide and local levels allow Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis (GCRC) to contextualise and understand our service needs and impact. It also helps to situate our pursuits of progressive change in the political, economic, social, and legal/policy landscape for women and girls as we strive for equality.

The latest available records (2023/24) show the reported number of sexual crimes stands at 14,484 (Scottish Gov, 2024). When compared to previous years, and in particular the 1970s when GCRC was created, levels today continue to evidence the scale of sexual crimes perpetuated by men towards women and girls. It is also the case that reported incidences are far lower than the actual level that take place.

The introduction of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, which provided a more precise definition of "consent" alongside the circumstances where the victim is unable to freely give consent - such as incapacitation due to the consumption of alcohol, are illegal - is also relevant to the increase in reported sexual crimes.

Years

1. Recorded number of reported sexual violence crimes in Scotland 1971

4,300

1979

4,200

1987

4,000

1996-1997

7,147

2003-2004

6,785

2011-2012

7,359 13,131

2020-2021

14,484

2023-2024

Numbers

Sexual crimes account for 5% of all crimes recorded in Scotland in 2023/24.

Almost one quarter (24%) of these were recorded at least one year after the incident took place and 17% account for rape and attempted rape. Of the 2,464 (17%) recorded for rape and attempted rape, 2,121 (or 95% of this total) were reported by female survivors. Of the 4,132 recorded overall incidences of sexual assault in 2023/24, 87% (3,589) of those who reported were female.

The relationship between sexual crimes and domestic abuse is important to GCRC services too. As with the aforementioned incidences, it is female survivors who predominantly experience domestic abuse, with 94% (1,921) of those reporting being female.

Mid-population estimates for Scotland, published by the National Records of Scotland in October 2024, estimate that Scotland's current population for mid2023 was 5,490,100 (National Records of Scotland, 2024). This saw the most significant population annual growth of +0.79% for 76 years. Scotland overall continues to have a slightly higher percentage of females (51%) than males (49%) (Audit Scotland, 2023).

Statistics recorded in 2022 found that 12.9% of people in Scotland had a minority ethnic background - an increase from 8.2% in 2011 (NRS, 2024/Scotland's Census, 2024).

Statistics from the Scottish Government state that for 2023/24, migration continued to be the 'sole driver' for population growth. (Scottish Government, 2023). Migration Policy Scotland charted that Poland was one of the top 5 E.U. nationalities for migration to Scotland. (Migration Policy Scotland, 2023).

Meanwhile, mid-2023 data published by the National Records of Scotland showed that international immigration into Scotland was 82,800. (National Records of Scotland, 2024).

The ethnic profile of Glasgow is very different to Scotland overall. This has resulted in the minority ethnic population of Glasgow having a percentage of Black and Ethnic Minority People (BME) of 11.5% - this is almost three times higher than the 4% recorded for Scotland. (Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, 2023).

Similarly, Scotland's Asian population in 2023 stood at 2.7% compared to Glasgow's at 8.1%, and Scotland's African population was 0.6% compared to Glasgow's at 2%.

Research by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice conducted a study into the role women play in the numbers incarcerated in the prison populations in Scotland in 2023 (SCCJR, 2023). It found that women tend to commit petty crime closely linked to poverty, such as theft, fraud and minor drug-offences.

However, it also found that Women in prison have higher lifetime instances of trauma (which includes repeated physical and sexual victimisation) than either male prisoners or women in the general population. (SCCJR, 2023).

With Glasgow having 44% of it's population recorded as being in Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation categories 1 & 2 of the most deprived zones and with SCCJR's research finding women commit crimes related to poverty but have higher instances of trauma - the correlation between women in prison and the trauma they have experienced is an area in which GCRC undertook work in throughout the monitoring period of 2023/24, via The Lilias Centre.

This centre became operational in 2022 and houses low-supervision women and young people—located in the Maryhill area of Glasgow.

UNDERSTANDING GLASGOW

Of the total population of 635,640 - 52% of those living in Glasgow are female

64% of all referrals to GCRC in 2023/24 were from Glasgow - 2% increase from 2022/23 67.7% of Survivors supported live in the Glasgow local authority area 35% of survivors supported listed Glasgow as their offence reporting area in 2023/24 141 recorded incidents of domestic abuse (Ref. Scottish Government, 2023)

44% of SIMD Zones in 1-2 in the most deprived areas (Ref. SIMD, 2020) Four out of Five or 81% of victims of domestic abuse were Female with a male suspected perpetrator (Ref. Scottish Government, 2023)

102 Sexual Crimes recorded in G2 & G3 Postcodes in 2023/24 (Ref. Police Scotland, 2024)

UNDERSTANDING WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE

The current population of this local authority is 87,790 (Ref. West Dunbartonshire Council, 2023).

52.2% of those living in West Dunbartonshire are female (Ref. West Dunbartonshire Council, 2023).

West Dunbartonshire had 39.67% of the local share of SIMD postcode areas (SIMD, 2020).

There was a 12% increase in Sexual crimes reported in West Dunbartonshire in 2023/24 (Ref. Police Scotland, 2024) and 44% domestic abuse incidents involving a crime or offence were recorded by the police compared to 39% for Glasgow in 2022/23 (Ref. Scottish Government, 2024) 8.05 % of total survivors supported by GCRC were from West Dunbartonshire There was a 3% increase in referrals to GCRC from West Dunbartonshire in 2023/24 compared to 2022/23

UNDERSTANDING EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE

The current population of this local authority is 109,000 (Ref. National Records of Scotland, 2024).

51.9% of those living in East Dunbartonshire listed their gender as female (Ref. National Records of Scotland, 2024).

123 Sexual crimes were reported in East Dunbartonshire in 2022 and 31% of domestic abuse incidents involving a crime or offence were recorded by the police compared to 39% in Glasgow during 2022/23 (Ref. Scottish Government, 2024)

East Dunbartonshire had 3.85% of the local share of SIMD (Ref. SIMD, 2020).

1% of survivors listed East Dunbartonshire as their offence-reporting area 3.57 % of survivors supported were from East Dunbartonshire 3% of referrals were from East Dunbartonshire in 2023/24 - this remans the same as 2022/23

UNDERSTANDING EAST RENFREWSHIRE

The current population of this local authority is 97,160 (Ref. National Records of Scotland, 2024).

52% of those living in East Renfrewshire listed their gender as female (Ref. National Records of Scotland, 2024).

East Renfrewshire had 24.89% of the local share of SIMD (Ref. SIMD, 2020).

41 Sexual crimes were reported in East Renfrewshire in 2023/24 a total of 10 more then in 2022/23 and domestic abuse increased by 5% (Police Scotland Summary Report, 2024).

1% of survivors listed East Renfrewshire as their offence-reporting area 4.48% of survivors supported were from East Renfrewshire 3% of referrals were from East Renfrewshire in 2023/24 - this remans the same as 2022/23

UNDERSTANDING RENFREWSHIRE

The current population of this local authority is 184,340 (Ref. National Records of Scotland, 2024).

51.7% of those living in Renfrewshire listed their gender as female (Ref. National Records of Scotland, 2024).

403 Sexual crimes were reported in Renfrewshire in 2023/24 - a 4.4% increase from 2022/23 and domestic abuse increased by 1% (Police Scotland Summary Report, 2024).

Renfrewshire had 24.89% of the local share of SIMD (Ref. SIMD, 2020).

5% of all survivors listed Renfrewshire as their offence-reporting area in 2023/24 3.57 % of survivors supported were from Renfrewshire

UNDERSTANDING INVERCLYDE

The current population of this local authority is 78,340 (Ref. National Records of Scotland, 2024).

52% of those living in Inverclyde are female (Ref. National Records of Scotland, 2024).

Inverclyde is one of the most deprived areas with 44.74 of the local share of SIMD behind Glasgow (Ref. SIMD, 2020).

26% of children and young people in Inverclyde are growing up in poverty (Ref. children Poverty in Inverclyde, 2024).

93 Sexual crimes reported in Inverclyde during April-November 2023, (Ref. Police Scotland Inverclyde Performance Report, 2024).

2% of referrals were from Inverclyde in 2023/24 - a 1% increase from 2022/23

Our Performance 2023/24

A total of 3,057 individual survivors were supported during 2023/24 across all Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Services. Of this total, 2,818 (92%) were women.

The breakdown of other genders supported within the remaining 8% of total survivors is shown below.

Survivors

supported

by

sex

and

gender

Not Disclosed 5.25% Intersex 0.05% Gender Queer 0.11% Non-Binary 0.37% Man/Male 1.32% Transgender 0.90%

Woman/Female 92.00%

There was a similar number of survivors per age grouping, in 2023/24 as that of 2022/23. The 20 to 29 year old age-group, continues to bring the highest demand for our survivor services at 27%. This is closely followed by the 30 to 39 year old age group, at 22%. The oldest survivor we supported was 85, while the youngest was 14 years old.

Survivors

supported

by

age

group

2022/23

2023/24

13 to 19 years 20 to 29 years 30 – 39 years 40 – 49 years 50 to 59 years 60 years and over 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Number of survivors

From the six local authority areas we serve, survivors from the Glasgow City area account for 67%. (2,049). Compared to 2022/2023, GCRC supported an increase of (349) survivors from the Glasgow City area.

Percentage

of

survivors

per

local

authority

area

Glasgow 67.03%

Other 10.63% Renfrewshire 3.57% East Renfrewshire 4.48% Inverclyde 2.68%

East Dunbartonshire 3.57% West Dunbartonshire 8.05%

There were 28,296 points of contact with survivors. A point of contact includes text messages, emails, and phone calls. This is an increase of 2,945 from 2022/23.

Whilst the total numbers of survivors supported has only increased by 51 between 2023/24 to 2022/23, the increase in contact points highlight that on average each survivor has 9 contact points with their worker, compared to 8 from the 2022/24.

The waiting lists for each of our services, continue to fluctuate. However, compared to 2022/23 we have greatly improved the time a survivor has to wait to come into each service.

Average

time

a

survivor

To be triaged

has

to

wait

for

each

service

To access emotional support

To access Justice Project support

To access Ruby Project support

To access support for 13‑ to 18‑year‑olds

2022/23

10 days 218 days 8 days 3 days 20 days

2023/34

10 days 31 days 21 days 3 days 2 days 0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

240

Number of days

The greatest improvement was seen for our Emotional and Therapeutic Support Service, where we have reduced the average waiting time from 218 days in 2022/23 to 31 days for 2023/34.

We were able to provide 134 more hours of service for our Connect Live Helpline in 2023/24, meaning that we could provide help and guidance to a total of 2,001 people. This is a rise of 6% (114) from 2022/23.

Sexuality

of

Survivors

Survivors may not always wish to disclose this detail, however of those that did the majority (37%) said they were heterosexual.

Not Disclosed 33.63%

Don't Know 20.32%

Heterosexual 37.20%

Lesbian 2.14% Gay 0.59% Bisexual 5.47% Queer 0.42% Pansexual 0.24%

Ethnicity

of

Survivors

Glasgow has the highest

700

ethnic diversity of population

600

in Scotland compared to the

500

other five local authority areas

400

we serve, which is reflected in our service profile. While the

300

majority of survivors who did

200

choose to disclose their

100

ethnicity state White (41.2% for 2023/24 compared to 63%

0

Ar ab As ia n Bl ac Ch k in es e In di Pa an ki st an Ot i he W rE hi te th ni ci tie s

Af

ric

an

in 2022/23), there are slight increases in those who identify as African (4.73% in 2022/23 compared to 4.93% in 2023/24)

Nationality

of

Survivors

0

5

Out with those who are a U.K. national, survivors supported came from a further 39 different nationalities, including Brazil, Gambia, Iran, and Yemen with the highest percentage from Vietnam at 2%, followed by Nigeria at 1% and Poland at 1%.

10

15

20

25

30

Disclosed

Disabilities

Nearly half of the survivors we supported disclosed a disability, and over 49% reported a mental health disability. Understanding this, is an important aspect of trauma-informed and person-centred approach.

Vision Disability 0.79% Speech Impairment Disability 0.79%

Learning Disability 12.25% Long Term Condition 13.04%

Physical Disability 21.74%

Other 1.98%

Mental Health Disability 49.41%

Length,

and

Perpetrator

of

Rape

or

Sexual

Abuse

Our evidence continues to demonstrate that rape and sexual violence are often not one-off occurrences and can range in length of time it is experienced for. Similar to our 2022/23 reporting, survivors on average experience ongoing sexual violence for one-year before reaching out for help from GCRC. Of those survivors who disclosed the sex of their perpetrator, the majority were men.

Female perpetrators accounted for 1.7%.

The perpetrator was known to, or in a position of power with, 96% of survivors we supported.

Buyer of sex / pimp

Ex - partner

In relationship of care

Foster parent

New relationship

Other person in position of power/trust Parent's partner

Partner Step-parent

Referral

Routes

of

Survivors

Other known person Other relative

Recent acquaintance Work colleague

Grandparent

Sibling

Parent Spouse

Stranger

2023/24

The referral routes of survivors provide evidence of how survivors first engage or come into contact with GCRC and help us understand which service best supports their journey. This can be done through various routes, and as we saw earlier, the reduction in the waiting time during 2023/24 to 31 days from 218 from the previous year for Emotional and Therapeutic support is crucial when we view the evidence from the chart below, given that 39% of referrals are from the survivor.

Due to survivors' self-referring, the Helpline Service run by GCRC remains a crucial resource, with 2,001 survivors using this as their first point of contact.

Counselling Services

1%

Criminal Justice

1% 7%

Education - Further Education Education - Schools

2%

Friends & Family

2% 8%

NHS

6%

Police Prison service

1%

Rape Crisis Scotland Police Referral

12%

Rape Crisis Scotland Standard referral

11%

Local authority Voluntary Organisations Self

4% 6% 39%

Prevention

and

Training

Our prevention and training activity continues to reach young people and adults across the 6 local authority areas we operate within. In 2023/24 we specifically targeted schools from these areas that had not received a prevention service from us. We also upgraded out approach to embed stronger youth work principles in the delivery of the programme as well as to take a better longitudinal and developmental relationship with these schools. We continue to reach almost an equal percentage of young men and women with our prevention programme.

Total Young people from schools (13 to 18 year olds)

2520

1565

No. In Glasgow Schools

No. in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, and Inverclyde Schools

314

No. in East and West Dunbartonshire Schools Total young people from youth groups (13 to 26 year olds) % of young people reached who are female

Total participants in training to organisations

641

182

47%

349

% of young people who are male

47.00%

% of young people who are female

53.00%

Schools

With 67 secondary schools, in the areas we serve, with 30 in the Glasgow City Council area alone, targeting our prevention activity is important. In this performance period, we have worked with the following secondary schools.

Douglas Academy Vale of Leven Academy Boclair Academy Kirkintilloch Academy Cleveden Secondary School St Andrew’s Secondary School Hollybrook Academy King’s Park Secondary School Castlemilk High School The High School of Glasgow Springburn Academy Royston Youth Action St Columba’s School St Lukes High School Woodfarm High School Port Glasgow High School.

Youth

Groups

Reaching young people who are not in mainstream education or who engage better in youth forum environments is important to us too. This year we worked with the following youth groups to deliver prevention workshops.

Positive Achievements North United Community Street League (West Dun and Inverclyde) Police Scotland Young Volunteers G20 Youth Group.

Training

Between April 2023 and March 2024 we worked with the following organisations to deliver First Responder Training to 89 participants and Bystander Training to 90 participants: Carr Gomm Health and Social Care Partnerships University of Strathclyde Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain.

     

Organizations worked with for tailored training workshops included and reached 364 people: The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland University of Strathclyde.

 

Topics for the training workshops included: Consent & Culture, Gender Socialisation, Preventing Gender Based Violence by being an Active Bystander.

  

HEAL TO THRIVE PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

G20

Having identified that women and girls from specific communities in Glasgow, were not reaching out to us for support to the level we would have expected, we wanted to redress this via a new approach.

The Heal To Thrive Project therefore takes what we provide in our head office base, to targeted communities in G20, G21, G22 and G45 postcode areas in Glasgow. It recognised that the barriers to reaching our help, were not those held by the women and girls, but our own operating model.

G21

G22

82%

75%

49%

G20

G21

G22

% of postcodes in top 20% of SIMD ranking G45

G43

G41

76%

Furthermore, the social and economic contexts of these communities, had to be better considered. For instance, 82% of G21 postcodes sit within the top 20% of all postcodes in Scotland within the SIMD. For G45, it is 76%.

21% 9% G45

G43

G41

% of postcodes in top 20% of SIMD ranking

HEAL TO THRIVE PROJECT SPOTLIGHT When the project commenced mid-2023, referrals to GCRC from women and girls from the G20 and G45 postcode areas sat at 6% of our overall number.

By April 2024, this referral number had risen to 17% of our overall number.

This means that 240 more women and girls were helped from these areas by GCRC.

Referrals

2023/24

2022/23

17% 6%

Working with community based partners has been the key to the success of this project.

These community anchors have been vital in helping us determine the locations of our dropins, who would benefit from our training and the context of women and girls in each locality.

In addition to the Health and Social Care Partnerships in these communities, we have worked with the following partners: Northwest Recovery Communities Daisy project Northeast Recovery Café Wheatley Care The Women's Centre Maryhill Burgh Halls Netherholm Community Hall Castlemilk Community Church Castlemilk Community Education Centre Castlemilk Youth Complex Maryhill Women's Centre Possilpark Parish Church Wing's Recovery Café Stall (Possilpark Parish Church) SPARC Recovery Café (Springburn Parish Church) We Are With You

HEAL TO THRIVE - Impact

In January 2024, a Heal to Thrive Team member worked with Northwest Recovery Communities (NWRC) to implement ‘Heal to Thrive’—First Responder Training. NWRC are an umbrella organisation that hosts multiple recovery cafes each week throughout the city's northwest area. Contact was established to train staff and volunteers to have a deeper understanding of GBV due to the nature of the service being Addiction and Recovery.

It was felt that this training could offer expertise on how to support vulnerable women using or starting to use the service who might have experienced any forms of GBV. After meeting the Northwest Recovery Communities (NWRC) workers, NWRC were enthusiastic to commit and attend the training sessions. After delivering training, NWRC invited GCRC to networking events they host and this has provided other opportunities to deliver further presentations on the 'Heal to Thrive' project and get the word out regarding the drop-ins and training to other organisations. Feedback found that participants stated that what they learned was helpful, and GCRC has continued to receive great feedback.

At the same time as receiving positive feedback, the training came with challenges for some staff and volunteers. This occurred due to the nature of the recovery Cafes, which means they are peer-led by volunteers. The café trains its volunteers to get ready for the world of work, so there were many outdated perceptions of gender roles, victimblaming attitudes, and a few male volunteers who did not respond well to the statistics.

Despite this challenge, NWRC has become a valued and continually active partner since January. We have been to multiple network meetings and women's events hosted by the Women's Recovery Cafe in Possil called “WINGS”. We have also set up an information pop-up stall within the WINGS Recovery Cafe in Possil once a month, where a prevention and support team member lets women know what's available.

They have asked us for feedback on their services for their annual report, and they collaborate and share social media posts. In the future, we also want to look at delivering workshops within the cafes and offer training to any new volunteers or staff that they feel might benefit from it.

HEAL TO THRIVE - Impact

C received emotional and therapeutic support from GCRC in the past and found the service very beneficial in learning ways of regulating her emotions. When C came along to the Maryhill drop in, she explained that she doesn’t need to rehash what she has already worked on, but is really struggling with self-confidence and anxiety. In line with these struggles, C made it clear that travelling into Glasgow city centre to our main offices in Empire House would be far to stress inducing for her now. As C lives in Maryhill, meeting at the Maryhill Burgh Halls every month was decided as the best plan going forward with emotional support.

So far, the focus of C’s support has centred around self-esteem and boundaries. We have completed several ‘worksheets’ focussed on these topics, and I have sent C links to articles and websites with interested things to read related to the topics at hand. C says she is happy to continue to meet once a month in Maryhill as she is busy, but having resources sent to her email provides her with support in the interim periods between sessions.

C has shared that she has chronic fatigue syndrome, which she has explained makes travel and forward planning particularly exhausting for her. C has explained that as she is currently, she would not have the capacity to engage with our ETST service if she had to travel into Glasgow city centre. So, C is only able to access our support service due to our Heal to Thrive outreach service in Maryhill.

THE FAIR PLAY PROJECT - spotlight

Since the last performance and impact report in 2022/23, as part of GCRC's prevention work, 'The Fair Play Project' received funding from the National Lottery Young Start Fund in August 2023.

The was to work with sporting communities to explore issues of sexism, misogyny, sexual harassment, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and promote a safe space for women and girls and, essentially, for all.

The project has gone from strength to strength and speaks to the impact GCRC is having within the broader community in line with its vision and mission since 1976, in creating a society where women and girls are equal and free from all forms of sexual violence.

100% of young people agreed that they had a better understanding of what sexual consent is, they better understood when someone cannot give consent, they better understood health and unhealthy relationships traits.

THE FAIR PLAY PROJECT - spotlight

Rangers Football Club were the first football club we secured a partnership with. This has been a ground-breaking collaboration due to it being the first time an internationally recognised football club has partnered with a rape crisis centre.

Evidence has shown that Rangers FC embraced the partnership at every level, from senior leadership to youth academy players.

While facilitating the training and workshops with Rangers FC, we were also asked to film for the Rangers TV (RTV) media team to create a professional video and announce the partnership.

This was closely followed by Partick Thistle Football Club.

Where their community base and strong force of volunteers have strongly engaged with the project.

The campaigning group 'Her Game Too Partick Thistle' have been fully alongside The Fair Play Project since its inception.

THE FAIR PLAY PROJECT - Impact During 2023/24 the list of organisations the project has worked with is below: Strathclyde Sports Union Strathclyde Warriors Strathclyde Rowing Club Strathclyde Netball Club Strathclyde Volleyball Club University of Glasgow Sports Union University of Glasgow Lacrosse Team University of Glasgow Hockey Team University of Glasgow Basketball Team University of Glasgow Netball Team Glasgow Kelvin College Sports Science Students City of Glasgow Sports Staff West College Sports Students West College Sports Staff Street League East Dunbartonshire Street League West Dunbartonshire East Dunbartonshire Active Schools Staff West Dunbartonshire Sports Development Team East Dunbartonshire Culture & Services Staff Street Soccer Partick Thistle Football Club Rangers Football Club St Mirren Football Club GHK Rugby Scotland Rugby Union Langside Sports Club

‘Everyone should have this training, regardless of whether they're going to be a first responder. Excellent, eyeopening training.’

"I think this was a really helpful resource, even as women you believe you understand GBV but there is so much that comes under the umbrella that you don’t realise is a form of GBV. This was such an insightful and comfortable way to learn more."

"The session was very well run and covered important and interesting topics. The section regarding the current laws and definitions was particularly insightful."

PREVENTION - Impact

Having delivered workshops to schools based on Consent, Power, Pornography and Online Sexual Violence, young people who participated said the following:

96% of students either Strongly agree or Agree that they have a better understanding of consent

96% of students either Strongly agree or Agree how power can influence consent

96% of students either Strongly agree or Agree that feel confident practicing consent

100% of students either Strongly agree or Agree that they recognise power dynamics in relationships

TRAINING - Impact

'I have never been in an institution that "briefed" every incoming student on this kind of important and sensitive material. I think that the usefulness of having this class/training for all of our incoming students is important beyond measure'

99% of participants would feel more confident taking a disclosure after attending First Responder Training

96% of participants after the Bystander Training would feel more confident to inetrvene 98% of participants had a better understanding of GBV in Scotland

EMOTIONAL & THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT - Impact

98% rated the service they received from the Emotional & Therapeutic Support & Triage Service (ETST) as 'Excellent'

'I really felt listened to. I feel much better now than my first session - everyone I spoke to from the beginning was really nice 'I 100% felt supported, especially as my support worker understood my Asian background, I felt very comfortable sharing with her' 'I would just like to thank everyone involved in the service for the amazing support you provide. It has really helped me come to terms with what happened'

EMOTIONAL & THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT - Case Study

'R's' case study reveals the complexities of emotions that survivors have when first attending sessions and the various coping strategies which can be employed to help identify trigger points and how to deal with these.

When 'R' first came to GCRC, she was dealing with two instances of being assaulted, which had left her feeling frustrated and angry.

'R's' first sessions with her support worker highlighted the difficulties 'R' had in differentiating between the two instances of assaults. One coping mechanism used by her support worker was to work through a timeline in which lots of feelings of self-blame and anger came up for 'R'. Working with her support worker, 'R' also used the 'self-blame' cards, these are victim-led and; these are victim-led, and conversations around blame followed. This led to 'R' sharing more details about the two incidents; over the subsequent sessions ', R' and her support worker worked through the anger 'R' was feeling towards herself and the triggers around food, anger and intimacy. In her last session, 'R' revisited the timeline exercise and said that she felt more compassion for her younger-self rather than the anger she had previously expressed.

RUBY ADVOCACY & SUPPORT - Impact

92% rated the service they received from the Ruby Service as either ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very good’ 96% either ‘Strongly agree or ‘Agree’ that they felt safe and relaxed.

96% either ‘Strongly agree’ or ‘Agree’ that their mental health and well-being had improved.

'My support workers talk to me like my friend, and I don't feel alienated or isolated with her at all, and I feel pretty good about myself after her sessions' 'I can’t begin to thank you enough for your help, from regularly fixing appointments, assuring and assisting me with my claim.

There are so many things to be thankful for, I am sincerely grateful to my support worker' 'Having a safe space to talk, feeling listened to, being given interesting and helpful insights. How the understanding of assault and migration make such a difference' 'Since l joined rape and crisis, my mental health and well-being have improved, and l can also find solutions to my problems whenever I am in need of help'

RUBY ADVOCACY & SUPPORT - Case Study

The Ruby Service within the GCRC understands the additional complexities of being from a minority ethnic background. It offers culturally sensitive support and advocacy to anyone with ethnic, cultural, or societal differences. Below 'M's' experience provides an understanding of how her sessions with the Ruby Service provided a safe space for allowing her to unpack her feelings and emotions connected to the trauma and not let herself be defined by the experiences she suffered.

'M' was referred to the Ruby service but was initially reluctant to

proceed with support because she felt that talking about the situation made her feel worse. After being reassured that we provided a traumainformed person-centred service, 'M' opened up about her experiences of being kidnapped and raped by a friend she trusted; this left her feeling unable to trust people and resulted in her having flashbacks, coupled with anxiety and feeling low.

'M's' sessions, therefore, were centred around these symptoms rather than the trauma she experienced, helping 'M' open up more and that 'M' should not be so critical of herself and celebrate the successes in her life and the barriers she has overcome to achieve these. By focusing on her confidence, view of herself and her values 'M's' sessions became more about who she wants to be, rather than the trauma she experienced.

In 'M's' words, 'I will never forget that place (in me) you helped me find.

Thank you'.

JUSTICE ADVOCACY - Impact

98% rated the service they received from the Advocacy as either ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’ 98% either ‘Strongly agree’ or ‘Agree’ that questions or anxieties about the Justice System were answered and understood with compassion 98% either ‘Strongly agree’ or ‘Agree’ that their support worker made them feel empowered.

'I couldn't have survived this traumatic process without the wonderful people like my support worker who provide such valuable support and advice' 'Thank you so much for your support over these last years. I wouldn’t have got half the way I did if I never had someone like you in a professional team by my side, so thank you' 'I have confidence since meeting my Support to Report support worker. I felt so supported and was listened to that gave me the confidence to speak up for myself my life improved so much' 'Before I started support, I was having a hard time coping with my day-to-day because of the traumatic event I had experienced. Since receiving care and support through the centre, I've been able to carry out my day-to-day much easier without intrusive thoughts getting in the way as much. My support worker was really supportive in helping me understand the system and feel that I always had an advocate on my side who believed me and cared about me'

JUSTICE ADVOCACY - Case Study

'R's' case study highlights the importance of choice and timing to achieve person-centred and trauma informed services to survivors.

R had self-referred after her forensic medical examination as she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to report to the police. We agreed to meet as often as she needed, to talk through the process, from giving the statement to what would then follow. We completed an Initial Briefing Report, which would be sent to the police if she decided to proceed.

Following this, R spoke to me about her anxieties around reporting. She came to the next appointment with a list of questions. We agreed that I would email her the answers so she could remain present in the room during the session.

After a few weeks, R decided that she did want to make a statement to the police. The certainty and strength in her decision was powerful.

S2R contacted the police to arrange for the statement to be taken in our centre with two female officers. We made sure to maintain consistent communication with R whilst organising, so she knew what was going on.

On the morning of the statement, R arrived before the police to allow her to get settled. She brought a crystal and a personal photograph as comfort items, as we’d discussed previously.

R was supported throughout giving her entire statement, and stayed afterwards to debrief.

She said it wasn’t as scary as she’d thought, and she felt empowered.

Following this, we spoke on the phone and unpacked some of the feelings she had about the statement. We will continue to support R for as long as she is involved with the criminal justice process, and for a period after.