There is a new face-to-face emotional support service in Leeds offering support for women and girls who have been affected by rape and sexual violence.
Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL), the Leeds based charity support women and girls who have been affected by rape and sexual violence of any kind at any time in their lives already run a telephone support line.
Una Morris from Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL), said:
“Since we started the telephone helpline in 2010 many survivors who contact us tell us that they would prefer to see a woman face-to-face to talk about their experiences. By extending our helpline services to offer support in this way, SARSVL is meeting a demand that we know exists.”
Appointments will be available on Mondays between 6pm and 8pm and Sundays between 2pm and 5pm. With five appointments slots available a week SARSVL will be able to provide face-to-face emotional support to up to 260 women and girls in Leeds each year.
SARSVL’s face-to-face emotional support service will operate in the same way as the other confidential helpline services – freephone, text and email – where women and girls talk about their feelings about rape and sexual violence and SARSVL’s trained helpline volunteers help them to explore their options, in a confidential and non-judgemental safe space.
Una continued:
“It is important to SARSVL that the services we provide are accessible and inclusive. While we recognise that face-to-face emotional support is not suited to all women and girls we hope that adding this new service increases the options for women and girls who need our services.”
Women and girls who would like to make an appointment for face-to-face emotional support should contact SARSVL’s telephone helpline (freephone 0808 802 3344) or email support@sarsvl.org.uk.
The SARSVL helpline is open:
- Mondays: 6:00 – 8:00pm
- Tuesdays: 8:00 – 11:00pm
- Wednesdays: 6:00 – 8:00pm
- Fridays: 6:00 – 8:00pm
- Sundays: 2:00 – 5:00pm.
It is free to call SARSVL from mobiles and landlines on 0808 802 3344. Text SARSVL on 07797 803 211 or email support@sarsvl.org.uk. Face-to-face emotional support is available by appointment on Mondays and Sundays. Up to date information about Support After Rape & Sexual Violence Leeds can be found at www.SupportAfterRapeLeeds.org.uk.
This is an excellent development and very much needed for women and girls in South Leeds who have experienced rape or sexual violence, which sadly is the case for far too many of us during our lives. Young women and girls are particularly at risk.
There are is also an organisation against street harassment, called Hollaback, which is a good idea although I don’t like the name (far too American). And another called Object against women and girls being seen and treated as nothing but sex objects. Also remember the Women Reclaim The Night march, held in Leeds and many other places every year. This year’s will take place on Saturday 16th November from 6pm in the City Centre and is about women asserting our right to walk where we wish at night without fear of male violence and harassment of any sort.
One of the best things about growing older has been that a lot of this harassment stops, which is great. It is a curse and a blight.