Eva Rape Crisis Service

1. Eva Rape Crisis Service K Davies

2. Herstory • Eva Rape Crisis Service was formed in 2003 by Kay Davies and Helen Danks. • Eva Women’s Aid funded a 6 month trial period during which we planned to identify the need for the service, create policies and procedures, and identify funding sources. K Davies

3. Needs Analysis • Eva’s domestic violence workers had experienced disclosures of sexual violence from the residents of their refuge. • There wasn’t a rape crisis service in the area, Cleveland RCC closed in 2001, their statistics showed around 100 clients per year were from the Redcar area. K Davies

4. First Steps • We created publicity material and expected to see clients in our second month. • In reality we saw our first client during our second week of the pilot project. • We have supported over 350 women so far. K Davies

5. The Role of Eva Rape Crisis • To provide counselling and support to survivors of sexual violence • To provide support and information for families of survivors of sexual violence and professionals working with survivors • To provide a telephone help-line service for survivors and their families K Davies

6. The Role of Eva Rape Crisis • To provide independent sexual violence advocacy support for survivors of sexual violence. • To provide support groups, confidence building courses and accredited training courses for clients and volunteers. • To provide training for other organisations around the issue of sexual violence. • To campaign on issues around sexual violence. K Davies

7. National Focus on Sexual Violence • Sexual offences bill • Rape stock take • VVAPP victims of violence and abuse prevention programme • Public health white paper choosing health 2002 • Cross government action plan on sexual violence • Sexual violence and abuse action plan K Davies

8. Making It Happen Eva rape crisis service has: • Provided consultation for the setting the boundaries document. • Worked in partnership with the police and PCT to create a SARC. • Consulted to create national service guidelines. • Provided training for SOLO officers. • Developed the role of an ISVA within our service. • Joined the board of directors of the Rape Crisis Network. • All with only 2 ½ staff members. K Davies

9. Funding • We experience difficulty in securing funding to continue and develop the project every year. • We complete on average between 7-15 funding applications per year. • Each application takes between 3-5 days to complete depending on the information required. • In 2006 our staff worked to 3 month contracts as emergency funding was applied for. K Davies

10. Funding • In 2007 we were successful in securing funding and employed an additional counsellor on a one year contract. (Home Office Victim’s Fund) • We secured our manager’s post for 3 years. (The Northern Rock Foundation) • We secured a contribution towards our help-line from Redcar and Cleveland Council. K Davies

11. Funding • We have not however secured continuation funding for the ISVA post. • We are generating income from training and attempting to secure GP commissioning. K Davies

12. Same Issues Across the Globe • Research by Dr Kim McGregor • Most helpful interventions were: • The client felt believed • The professional was supportive, compassionate, empathetic and caring K Davies

13. Same Issues Across the Globe • The client did not feel blamed for the abuse • The professional was not shocked or disgusted at the disclosure • The client did not feel odd or alone • The professional helped stop the abuse K Davies

14. Unhelpful Interventions • Sexual exploitation by the professional • Professionals not believing the disclosure and telling the client she fantasised it • Ignoring or dismissing the abuse as not important as intercourse did not take place K Davies

15. Unhelpful Interventions • Over prescribing medicine • Telling the client she must have enjoyed the abuse as she stayed • Being shocked or disgusted by the disclosure K Davies

16. Eva’s Clients’ Experiences of Unhelpful Interventions • Sexual relationship with psychiatrist. • Told they must be fantasising or they would have gone to the police. • Told they were not 6 years old and should act accordingly. • Told it wasn’t that bad and they should be over it now. K Davies

17. Eva’s Clients’ Experiences of Unhelpful Interventions • Being diagnosed with mental health issues without being asked why they felt that way. • Told they must have enjoyed the abuse because it carried on into adulthood. • Not being believed when they disclosed issues of organised or satanist abuse. K Davies

18. What Makes Rape Crisis Special • Rape Crisis Centres have developed a woman centred, empowerment model of counselling which is used in every rape crisis centre. • Each generation of rape crisis workers shares their expertise with the next one. • Our understanding of feminist principles helps us to clarify the links between female oppression, pornography and sexual violence. • We offer clients a female only space in which to work through abuse issues. K Davies

19. What Makes Rape Crisis Special • Rape Crisis workers understand the devastating impact that sexual violence has on a woman’s life. • We are resilient enough to listen to stories of torture and abuse every day, without letting our own feelings get in the way of supporting the survivor. • We understand the ways in which society and rapists try to place the blame the survivor. K Davies

20. When a Survivor Comes to Rape Crisis • She will be believed. • She will receive counselling from a highly trained and experienced counsellor. • We will challenge the rape myths she has hooked into. K Davies

21. When a Survivor Comes to Rape Crisis • We will not collude with any moral judgments that may have been made about her. • We will accept her fully, no matter how she feels about herself. • We will never treat her as less than a remarkable human being who has survived a horrible crime. K Davies

22. In Her Own Words • “An excellent service; words are not adequate to describe the commitment, dedication and assistance offered by the support team. I was able to work through the feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, anger etc until I understood the effects the abuse had on me. I now have hope for the future, faith in myself and confidence that I can change my life.” K Davies