RASASC Launches Awareness Drive to Tackle Surge in Holiday-Related Reports of Sexual Violence

This festive season we would like to raise awareness of a pressing matter that demands our collective awareness and action. Our statistics for the year ending March 2023 paint a stark reality – we saw an alarming 17% surge in referrals for sexual violence, abuse and rape across Knowsley and St Helens compared to the previous year. January witnessed an even more staggering 40% rise in reports, eclipsing the monthly average.

These figures illuminate a distressing truth, the holiday season, typically associated with joy and togetherness, unfortunately witnesses an upswing in incidents of sexual violence. In response to this urgent need, we want to provide guidance on creating safe spaces and empowering individuals to take action and seek support.

We would also like to reach out to offer support to those who may be struggling with the impact of historical sexual abuse who find this time of year triggering for many different reasons. This could be due to an increase in social gatherings, pressure to participate, childhood memories or anniversaries related to trauma. It doesn’t matter when the abuse happened, we are here to listen, believe and support you.

We will be raising awareness across our social media on how people can stay safe, protect their mental and physical wellbeing and support others.

To contact us about support available to you or a loved one you can email support@rapecentre.org.uk or call us on 0330 363 0063. We provide counselling, pre-trial therapy independent sexual violence advisors, wellbeing groups and peer support.

If you have been recently sexually assaulted (with or without reporting to the police) SAFE Place Merseyside is the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for Merseyside and Saint Mary’s is the SARC for Cheshire. They offer immediate crisis support, can talk to you about the option of a forensic medical examination and can also refer you directly to our counselling and ISVA services.