Information for women from minority ethnic communities What does the centre do?
We offer support to women, girls aged 12 and over and all members of the transgender community who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives, in their own country or in the UK. These experiences might have been with strangers in the street, someone you know, someone in your own or your husband’s family - or even your husband. We believe that no-one has the right to hurt a woman or child in any way or make them do things that upset or shame them. If you have had an experience that made you feel bad, that hurt you or shamed you, you can speak to us about it. There are women here who will listen to you and support you, but they won’t judge you because of what has happened. All our workers are women and if you need an interpreter, we will make sure that interpreter is also a woman. Our service is free of charge. What kind of women work at the centre?
The women who work at the centre are from different backgrounds and different cultures. All the workers are very highly trained and respect each other and the women who use our service. I can’t speak English, how do I get in touch with you and will I be able to speak to someone who speaks my language?
First contact with us has to be made in English. If you want to make an appointment with us and you do not speak English, you could get a trusted English-speaking friend or a worker in another agency such as health worker or doctor, to contact us. We will then arrange an appointment to meet you with a female interpreter. We will need to know what language you prefer to speak. We will take your advice on this and you will always have control over the arrangements for the meeting. The interpreters also understand about making sure anything that is discussed between you and your support worker is not shared outside of the support room. You can bring someone along with you to your appointment and they can wait for you in our waiting area. If English is not your first language and you want to speak to someone over the phone, you can phone Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline and they will be able to arrange for a telephone interpreter. Their freephone helpline is open from 6pm – midnight every day: 08088 01 03 02. I am afraid the interpreter might be from my community
We only use trained, professional female interpreters. If they live in your community they will still be bound by their professional confidentiality and by our own confidentiality agreement. We never use family members or friends to translate. There is no charge to you for an interpreter. Will what I say be kept confidential?
Anything that you tell us is confidential. On a rare occasion a woman will tell us about a child or someone vulnerable who is being harmed and we have a duty to pass this information on to the relevant authorities. Before we do this we will discuss it fully with you. What if I see another woman from my community while I am at your centre?
We cannot guarantee that you will not meet another woman that you know or someone who lives in your community, when you are at our office for support. Rape and sexual assault is something that is common for women in all cultures and communities and we trust women to keep confidence about what they see and hear in our centre. I would not be allowed to come into town on my own. Could I see someone in my own area?
Yes. A support worker and translator could come to your area and meet you in a place you feel safe. This may be a community centre, a health centre or somewhere where you are comfortable. We can assure you that we would not give the reason why we are visiting you when we arrive at the place. I am afraid that if my family finds out what has happened to me they may feel shamed or dishonoured.
We can help you talk about your fears about your family and we can assure you that anything you tell us will be confidential within our policies. If you feel that you are in danger we can give you information about other organisations that could help and give you advice on keeping safe. My husband makes me do things that scare me and hurt me. What can I do?
Your husband does not have the right to scare you, hurt you or make you do anything you don’t want to do. If anyone in your family or his family hurts you or makes you do anything that shames you, or makes you feel bad, you can contact us and we will try to help you. Women can sometimes be made to feel worthless and humiliated because of their dowry, or be hurt and shamed by other men in the family. If this is happening to you we can help you talk about what is going on and give you information about some other organisations that may be able to help you stay safe. I am not in this country legally. Can you help me?
Even if you are not in the UK legally, you have a right to be safe and protected from harm. If you have been tricked into coming here and are now involved in prostitution, or if you have a debt bond, we can put you in touch with another project for women. They will support you and help get you to safety. If you want to go home, we may also be able to put you in touch with someone who can help you. I have only been in this country for a year. Do I have any rights?
If you have come to this country to marry your husband, you may be subject to the ‘2 year rule’ which means that you can’t claim public funds such as income support or housing benefit. Our service is free of charge and we will be able to give you information about other organisations that will be able to give you advice on your rights and may be able to help you stay safe. Something happened to me a long time ago. I still get memories that upset and frighten me. Can I get help from the centre?
If something happened to you when you were a child that made you feel hurt, upset and humiliated, you can speak to us. You might not have spoken to anyone before. Something might have brought it into your mind and now you need to talk about it. We can help you and we will believe you and not judge you because of what has happened. I was raped by a man in my community and he says he will tell everyone what kind of woman I am. I am afraid I will be punished.
Many women, from all communities tell us that they have experienced sexual violence by men they know. They are often afraid that everyone will find out and that they will be publicly shamed. You can speak to us about this and we will support you. I was raped by soldiers in my home country. What can I do?
You may not be able to do anything to prosecute the men who raped you. If you are currently seeking asylum in the UK you can tell the lawyers who are dealing with your asylum claim that this has happened. Our workers may be able to help you with this. My daughter was raped too. Where can she get help?
We offer support to girls who are aged 12 or over, who have experienced sexual violence in their own country or in the UK.
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Black and minority ethnic women 