RASA Merseyside

RASA Merseyside has been operating since 1986 and supports women, men and children who have been impacted by sexual abuse. We offer counselling, advocacy, groups, and educative support/ training both to professionals and service users. RASA exists to provide emotional and practical support for survivors of all forms of sexual violence. We do this through assessing risk and need and delivering a professional and age and needs appropriate support and recovery package. We recognise that sexual violence may be perpetrated by family, acquaintance, friend or stranger and that sexual violence affect individuals differently. We offer counselling, advocacy, training, workshops and development programmes. We provide a range of therapeutic interventions through counselling, and liaise with mental health support teams, strategic and third sector, to provide the best possible all-round care for survivors, their friends and family. RASA Merseyside is a women-led, women-run service founded on feminist principles. We work with all individuals who have been impacted by sexual abuse, but we remain a feminist organisation because we recognise that sexual violence remains largely a gendered crime. We work with men and boys to the same feminist principles, recognising the different ways that sexual violence affects them, and offering men-only support groups for survivors. RASA exists to improve the wellbeing of individuals impacted by sexual abuse by offering a support service that is confidential and free from judgement. We offer a range of services including: counselling, Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAS), groups, and educative support/ training both to professionals and service users. We have a large group of counsellors, many of whom are trained in multiple approaches.