Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS)

Overview

One key objective of SARSAS is to challenge attitudes, thinking and behaviour around rape and sexual abuse of all kinds. Our publicity, website, events and campaigns target issues such as rape myths, ideas of consent, responsibility and blame as part of a broader goal to challenge attitudes towards gender violence and its related issues. A key part of trauma counselling is helping survivors to understand their own attitudes towards what has happened, and supporting them to find ways to live with past trauma. A key message is that rape and sexual violence of any kind is never the fault of the survivor.

What we do

Our website provides fact sheets about rape myths. You can also find out about recent campaigns through our website. 

Our specialist trauma counselling service, as well as our helpline and one to one support service are all focused upon listening, believing and supporting survivors of rape and sexual violence to understand their own reactions to trauma and find ways of living with past trauma.

Where we do it

We have hubs and spokes throughout Bristol, BaNES, Somerset, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire. 

How to access

Take a look at our website: www.sarsas.org.uk

Or call our helpline:

Women and Girls -  0808 801 0456 

Mondays & Fridays 11am - 2pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 6pm - 8.30pm

Men and Boys - 0808 801 0464

Mondays 11am - 2pm, Tuesday 6pm - 8.30pm

Overview

We support women and girls who have experienced rape or sexual violence at any point in their lives.

This can include survivors of child abuse, sexual exploitation, marital-rape, sexual violence within a forced marriage, grooming, harrassment and historic or recent rape and sexual assault of any other kind.

What we do

SARSAS Survivor Pathways is a specialist online support service for women and girls who have experienced rape or sexual violence at any time in their lives.

We work in BaNES, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

We offer guidances for anyone wanting to know more about specialist sexual violence services. Making it easier to access relevant support for Every Victim/Survivor of rape or sexual assault, by offer more informed choices about the services available and to reassure and assist professionals and concerned others about the services available for survivors

Through our helpline, e-support service, regular support sessions and specialist trauma counselling services, we reach women right across Avon & Somerset.

We listen and believe. We support women and girls to explore and understand their thoughts, feelings and options.

Where we do it

Survivor Pathway in an online service.

We at SARSAS provide support within a range of environments to suit the needs and comfort of the people we work with. We deliver sessions in a number of expanding outreach centres as well as over the phone so that people can seek support in environment that suits them.

Helpline – 0808 801 0456 (freefone)

(Mon & Fri 11am-2pm, Tues, Weds & Thurs 6pm-8.30pm)

One to one support – in Bristol, Taunton, Weston super Mare, Yate, Yeovil

E-support – support@sarsas.org.uk

(24 hour, will be responded to during helpline shifts)

Counselling – in Taunton, Weston super Mare, Yate, Yeovil

How to access

You can access the Survivor Pathway site Here

To access one to one support or counselling, we encourage women and girls to self-refer through our helpline (0808 801 0456)

They can also be referred by agencies via email or telephone. Email info@sarsas.org.uk for a referral form or downlaod it on this page. We will then invite them in for an introductory session before we set up one to one support or counselling.

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• SARSAS referral form