Edinburgh Women's Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre

Our new crisis and advocacy support service is for women and girls aged 12 and over who have experienced a recent or attempted rape or sexual assault, or feel they are in crisis and need to see someone as soon as possible. This service is the first of its kind in Edinburgh. It aims to help survivors to identify their options following a recent or attempted rape or sexual assault.

Our crisis and advocacy support service can:

• Provide information on health services, such as Accident and Emergency, GPs, the GUM clinic and mental health services
• Accompany survivors to the above health services
• Provide information on reporting to the police, forensic services, the examination and legal procedures
• Accompany survivors to appointments relating to the above legal services
• Support survivors to safety plan, including assisting her to access emergency accommodation if she is unsafe in her current accommodation
• Contact agencies on survivors behalf and assist with practicalities
• Provide home visits
• Provide information and referral to longer-term support and counselling services

What is advocacy?
Advocacy is supporting a woman to speak up for what she wants or needs. It includes supporting her with practical issues and speaking on her behalf. It may be appropriate when a woman is in crisis or finds that specific difficulties are preventing her from accessing support. Our advocacy work includes working with a woman to find out what she needs, and to help her to identify and address those difficulties.

How do I contact the advocacy support service?
You can contact us on our helpline 0131 556 9437. When you contact us we will aim to offer you an immediate appointment within office hours. A home visit during office hours can also be arranged.

If you are an individual or a worker at another agency who is supporting a survivor following a recent rape or sexual assault, you can refer a woman to our service. We can arrange an appointment for her with you if one is available. Our advocacy worker will follow-up with the woman and check it is her choice to access our service.

• View further information if have recently been raped or sexually assaulted