Sexual assault centre urges more people to seek help
BBCA sexual assault referral centre (SARC) in a county has encouraged more people to use its service so they can access support in a safe place.
Serenity SARC, based in the grounds of Northampton General Hospital, provides specialist care for people who have experienced sexual assault and abuse.
According to NHS figures, more than half of people in England do not get support after experiencing sexual assault and abuse.
Fay Wickett, manager at Serenity, said an important element of the centre was its ability to keep evidence for survivors who are not ready to go to the police.
The centre has been operating since 2010 and, as part of an NHS campaign, has been raising awareness about the different ways it offers support to people.
"We want to encourage people to come forward, even though they don't want to go to the police, to get the healthcare that they should have," Ms Wickett said.
"Help is available without having to report what happened; the team will make sure that anyone visiting the service understands their options and gets the support they choose in a place where they are safe."
The centre provides crisis care, medical and forensic examinations, emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections.
Ms Wickett said: "We can store evidence here for two years post-assault, and in that two years, it's time to consider if they want to convert over to a police referral.
"So you've got that time, you can also have access to the support during that time that would help empower you to make that decision."
The facility features several different rooms - all designed to be familiar, calming and friendly - including two police interview spaces, a family room kitted out with toys and a TV, and a forensic examination space.
The mother of a survivor – who did not want to be named – has received support at the centre for more than a year and said it had been a "lifeline" for her family.
"We were introduced to a lady who could be our future counsellor, and she met with us and just kind of held us and let myself and my child just rant and rave and cry and process what had gone on," she said.
"It was something I'd never had to deal with, never thought I'd have to deal with and then to have support on how to deal with my children and them say, 'right, we've got you, we've got you as a family'."
The mother added that Serenity had given her family an "outlet to talk and let it all out" which has "helped with the healing".
- If you've been affected by any of the issues in this story you can find help and support via BBC Action Line here.
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