Rob, a male Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)
Rob is an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor or most commonly referred to as an ISVA. He works for the Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Cheshire and Merseyside (RASASC) who are the commissioned service, providing specialist sexual violence support across Cheshire, St Helens and Knowsley.
He said: “My role as an ISVA is to work with people who have experienced rape or sexual assault, irrespective of whether they have reported to the police. The nature of the support that I provide can vary from case to case and depends on the needs of the individual and their circumstances.
“Support can include me providing accurate and impartial information, emotional and practical support, and support before, during and after court. I act as a single point of access for the survivor and their dependants, while providing a professional service.
“It takes a lot of courage to speak out about sexual violence and it’s really important to understand that this wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything to deserve it. Talking to support organisations like RASASC is confidential, non-judgemental, understanding, and friendly. We’re here for you.”