PERFORMANCE & IMPACT REPORT
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.
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.
1. Recorded number of reported sexual violence crimes in Scotland
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
Ofthetotalpopulationof635,640-52%of thoselivinginGlasgowarefemale
64%ofallreferralstoGCRCin2023/24 werefromGlasgow-2%increasefrom 2022/23
67.7%ofSurvivorssupportedliveinthe Glasgowlocalauthorityarea
35%ofsurvivorssupportedlistedGlasgowastheiroffence reportingareain2023/24
141 recorded incidents of domestic abuse (Ref. Scottish Government, 2023)
44%ofSIMDZonesin1-2inthemostdeprivedareas (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)
102SexualCrimesrecordedinG2&G3Postcodesin 2023/24 (Ref. PoliceScotland,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.
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.
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
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.
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.
To be triaged To access emotional support To access Ruby Project support To access Justice Project support To access support for 13 to 18 year olds
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 1 service for our Connect Li 2023/24, meaning that w and guidance to a total of is a rise of 6% (114) from S e x u a l i t y o f S u r v i v o r s
Survivorsmaynotalwayswishtodisclosethisdetail,howeverofthosethatdidthe majority(37%)saidtheywereheterosexual.
N a t i o n a l i t y o f S u r v i v o r s
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%.
Glasgowhasthehighest ethnicdiversityofpopulation inScotlandcomparedtothe otherfivelocalauthorityareas weserve,whichisreflectedin ourserviceprofile.Whilethe majorityofsurvivorswhodid choosetodisclosetheir ethnicitystateWhite(41.2% for2023/24comparedto63% in2022/23),thereareslight increasesinthosewho identifyasAfrican(4.73%in 2022/23comparedto4.93%in 2023/24)
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
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 Foster parent Grandparent
In relationship of care New relationship Other known person
Other person in position of power/trust Other relative Parent
Parent's partner Partner
Step-parent
Recent acquaintance Sibling Spouse
Work colleague Stranger
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
Criminal Justice
Education - Further Education
Education - Schools Friends & Family
Organisations
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)
No In Glasgow Schools
No. in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, and Inverclyde Schools
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
participants in training to organisations
S c h o o l s
% of young people who are male % of young people who are female
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.
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
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. T r a i n i n g
HEAL TO THRIVE PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
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.
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%.
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.
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
InJanuary2024,aHealtoThriveTeammemberworkedwithNorthwestRecovery Communities(NWRC)toimplement‘HealtoThrive’—FirstResponderTraining.NWRC areanumbrellaorganisationthathostsmultiplerecoverycafeseachweekthroughout thecity'snorthwestarea.Contactwasestablishedtotrainstaffandvolunteerstohavea deeperunderstandingofGBVduetothenatureoftheservicebeingAddictionand Recovery.
Itwasfeltthatthistrainingcouldofferexpertiseonhowtosupportvulnerablewomen usingorstartingtousetheservicewhomighthaveexperiencedanyformsofGBV. AftermeetingtheNorthwestRecoveryCommunities(NWRC)workers,NWRCwere enthusiastictocommit andattendthetrainingsessions.Afterdeliveringtraining, NWRCinvitedGCRCtonetworkingeventstheyhostandthishasprovidedother opportunitiestodeliverfurtherpresentationsonthe'HealtoThrive'projectandgetthe wordoutregardingthedrop-insandtrainingtootherorganisations.Feedbackfound thatparticipantsstatedthatwhattheylearnedwashelpful,andGCRChascontinuedto receivegreatfeedback.
Atthesametimeasreceivingpositivefeedback,thetrainingcamewithchallengesfor somestaffandvolunteers.ThisoccurredduetothenatureoftherecoveryCafes,which meanstheyarepeer-ledbyvolunteers.Thecafétrainsitsvolunteerstogetreadyforthe worldofwork,sothereweremanyoutdatedperceptionsofgenderroles,victimblamingattitudes,andafewmalevolunteerswhodidnotrespondwelltothestatistics. Despitethischallenge,NWRChasbecomeavaluedandcontinuallyactivepartnersince January.Wehavebeentomultiplenetworkmeetingsandwomen'seventshostedby theWomen'sRecoveryCafeinPossilcalled“WINGS”.Wehavealsosetupan informationpop-upstallwithintheWINGSRecoveryCafeinPossilonceamonth, whereapreventionandsupportteammemberletswomenknowwhat'savailable. Theyhaveaskedusforfeedbackontheirservicesfortheirannualreport,andthey collaborateandsharesocialmediaposts.Inthefuture,wealsowanttolookat deliveringworkshopswithinthecafesandoffertrainingtoanynewvolunteersorstaff thattheyfeelmightbenefitfromit.
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
Sincethelastperformanceandimpactreportin 2022/23,aspartofGCRC'spreventionwork,'The FairPlayProject'receivedfundingfromthe NationalLotteryYoungStartFundinAugust2023. Thewastoworkwithsportingcommunitiesto exploreissuesofsexism,misogyny,sexual harassment,andGender-BasedViolence(GBV)and promoteasafespaceforwomenandgirlsand, essentially,forall.
Theprojecthasgonefromstrengthtostrengthand speakstotheimpactGCRCishavingwithinthe broadercommunityinlinewithitsvisionand missionsince1976,increatingasocietywhere womenandgirlsareequalandfreefromallforms ofsexualviolence.
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
RangersFootballClubwerethe firstfootballclubwesecureda partnershipwith. Thishasbeena ground-breakingcollaborationdue toitbeingthefirsttimean internationallyrecognisedfootball clubhaspartneredwitharape crisiscentre.
EvidencehasshownthatRangers FCembracedthepartnershipat everylevel,fromseniorleadership toyouthacademyplayers.
Whilefacilitatingthetrainingand workshopswithRangersFC,we werealsoaskedtofilmforthe RangersTV(RTV)mediateamto createaprofessionalvideoand announcethepartnership.
Thiswascloselyfollowedby PartickThistleFootballClub. Wheretheircommunitybaseand strongforceofvolunteershave stronglyengagedwiththeproject. Thecampaigninggroup'HerGame TooPartickThistle'havebeenfully alongsideTheFairPlayProject sinceitsinception.
THE FAIR PLAY PROJECT - Impact
During2023/24thelistoforganisationstheprojecthasworkedwithisbelow:
StrathclydeSportsUnion
StrathclydeWarriors
StrathclydeRowingClub
StrathclydeNetballClub
StrathclydeVolleyballClub
UniversityofGlasgowSportsUnion
UniversityofGlasgowLacrosseTeam
UniversityofGlasgowHockeyTeam
UniversityofGlasgowBasketballTeam
UniversityofGlasgowNetballTeam
GlasgowKelvinCollegeSportsScienceStudents
CityofGlasgowSportsStaff
WestCollegeSportsStudents
WestCollegeSportsStaff
StreetLeagueEastDunbartonshire
StreetLeagueWestDunbartonshire
EastDunbartonshireActiveSchoolsStaff
WestDunbartonshireSportsDevelopmentTeam
EastDunbartonshireCulture&ServicesStaff
StreetSoccer
PartickThistleFootballClub
RangersFootballClub
StMirrenFootballClub
GHKRugby
ScotlandRugbyUnion
LangsideSportsClub
‘Everyoneshouldhavethis training,regardlessofwhether they'regoingtobeafirst responder.Excellent,eyeopeningtraining.’
"Ithinkthiswasareallyhelpfulresource,evenaswomenyoubelieveyou understandGBVbutthereissomuchthatcomesundertheumbrellathatyou don’trealiseisaformofGBV.Thiswassuchaninsightfulandcomfortablewayto learnmore."
"Thesessionwasverywellrunandcoveredimportantandinterestingtopics.The sectionregardingthecurrentlawsanddefinitionswasparticularlyinsightful."
PREVENTION - Impact
HavingdeliveredworkshopstoschoolsbasedonConsent,Power,Pornographyand OnlineSexualViolence,youngpeoplewhoparticipatedsaidthefollowing:
96%ofstudentseitherStrongly agreeorAgreethattheyhavea betterunderstandingofconsent
96%ofstudentseitherStrongly agreeorAgreethatfeelconfident practicingconsent
TRAINING - Impact
96%ofstudentseitherStrongly agreeorAgreehowpowercan influenceconsent
100%ofstudentseitherStrongly agreeorAgreethattheyrecognise powerdynamicsinrelationships
'Ihaveneverbeeninaninstitutionthat"briefed"everyincoming studentonthiskindofimportantandsensitivematerial.Ithinkthat theusefulnessofhavingthisclass/trainingforallofourincoming studentsisimportantbeyondmeasure'
99%ofparticipantswould feelmoreconfidenttaking adisclosureafterattending FirstResponderTraining
96%ofparticipantsaftertheBystander Trainingwouldfeelmoreconfidentto inetrvene
98%ofparticipantshadabetter understandingofGBVinScotland
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'firstcametoGCRC,shewasdealingwithtwoinstances ofbeingassaulted,whichhadleftherfeelingfrustratedandangry.
'R's'firstsessionswithhersupportworkerhighlightedthe difficulties'R'hadindifferentiatingbetweenthetwoinstancesof assaults.Onecopingmechanismusedbyhersupportworkerwas toworkthroughatimelineinwhichlotsoffeelingsofself-blame andangercameupfor'R'. Workingwithhersupportworker,'R' alsousedthe'self-blame'cards,thesearevictim-ledand;theseare victim-led,andconversationsaroundblamefollowed.Thisledto 'R'sharingmoredetailsaboutthetwoincidents;overthe subsequentsessions',R'andhersupportworkerworkedthrough theanger'R'wasfeelingtowardsherselfandthetriggersaround food,angerandintimacy.Inherlastsession,'R'revisitedthe timelineexerciseandsaidthatshefeltmorecompassionforher younger-selfratherthantheangershehadpreviouslyexpressed.
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'wasreferredtotheRubyservicebutwasinitiallyreluctantto proceedwithsupportbecauseshefeltthattalkingaboutthesituation madeherfeelworse.Afterbeingreassuredthatweprovidedatraumainformedperson-centredservice,'M'openedupaboutherexperiences ofbeingkidnappedandrapedbyafriendshetrusted;thislefther feelingunabletotrustpeopleandresultedinherhavingflashbacks, coupledwithanxietyandfeelinglow.
'M's'sessions,therefore,werecentredaroundthesesymptomsrather thanthetraumasheexperienced,helping'M'openupmoreandthat'M' shouldnotbesocriticalofherselfandcelebratethesuccessesinherlife andthebarriersshehasovercometoachievethese.Byfocusingonher confidence,viewofherselfandhervalues'M's'sessionsbecamemore aboutwhoshewantstobe,ratherthanthetraumasheexperienced.
In'M's'words,'Iwillneverforgetthatplace(inme)youhelpedmefind. Thankyou'.
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.
