SARSAS (Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support)

We believe that anyone who has experienced rape or sexual abuse deserves specialist support, whether it happened 50 years ago, 5 years ago, or just 5 days ago. As members of Rape Crisis England & Wales, The Centre for Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), The Survivors Trust, and the British Association of Social Workers, we’re dedicated to delivering the highest standards of care. We're also an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP). And in 2021, we were awarded with a GSK/Kings Fund Impact Award – a national recognition for excellence. Supporting We offer specialist, trauma-informed support – including counselling, group workshops, and a confidential helpline – to survivors across five counties in the southwest. Every year, we help thousands of people to improve their mental health, regain control, and begin processing the impact of trauma on their daily lives. We support survivors on their healing journey as they rebuild their lives after abuse, offering hope for their future. Educating We don’t just respond to sexual violence – we're actively working to prevent it. Our training and education programmes focus on creating safer spaces at home, in schools, workplaces, and online. We offer bespoke in house and online training and policy support on consent, bystander intervention, trauma, sexual harassment, and responding to disclosures By partnering with schools, community groups, and businesses, we’re changing the conversation around sexual violence and helping to build safer spaces and more informed communities. Campaigning Our vision? A world free from sexual violence. And we’re taking real steps to make that happen. Everyone deserves to live without fear of abuse, and we’re here to raise awareness, push for change, and make sure survivors’ voices are heard. We’re also proud to lead ground-breaking projects on important but often overlooked issues, like sibling sexual abuse and sexual violence against older women.