Support for people who’ve had recent sexual assault…

We are pleased to announce that from 1^st June, our partner organisation, Sarsas have been selected as the lead provider to provide NHS funded therapeutic support for people in Avon and Somerset who have experienced rape or sexual abuse in the last year and children and young people at any time.

This service will be provided by the Avon and Somerset Sexual Violence Consortium, a group of local specialist service providers. For this contract the Consortium Members involved are Sarsas, Womankind and The Green House.  The Consortium will be continuing the work done previously in this area by The Bridge Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Sarsas and The Green Hosue.  The Bridge will continue to provide forensic medical examinations.  The Green House will continue to provide counselling to children and young people that have experienced rape and abuse at any time.  Womankind will provide counselling and therapy interventions for women in the Bristol area

With the Consortium we will offer a wide variety of therapeutic interventions across Avon and Somerset.  People can continue to refer themselves to the service or be referred by a professional such as their GP or Independent Sexual Violence Advisor.

Any self-referrals to the new service can be made by calling SARSAS on 0117 929 9556 or by email to support@sarsas.org.uk. if you are a professional that wishes to refer a service user to the support please complete a SARSAS referral form http://www.sarsas.org.uk/referrals/

If you wish to refer a child or young person to support, please contact The Green House directly on 0117 935 1707 or info@the-green-house.org.uk

This service is commissioned by the three local clinical commissioning groups – Bath & North-East Somerset, Somerset, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCGs – working with the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Avon and Somerset and NHS England. The service is funded by the OPCC and NHS England.

For queries about the new service, please contact 0117 929 9556 or via email to info@sarsas.org.uk