Sexual violence

Both women and men can be raped or sexually assaulted and this is a very distressing experience. For this reason, it may be weeks, months or even years before victims can begin to acknowledge and talk about their experience. Many sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows, and in these cases the impact may be even greater.

Support and understanding are important and it helps to have someone to talk to in confidence.

All Victim Support volunteers who work with victims of sexual violence have been specially selected and trained for this work.

Victim Support Schemes offer:

emotional support and information so that the victim can talk about their feelings about the crime and think through what they want to do following the attack
information about the urgent practical, medical and personal issues which may arise following a crime of sexual violence
information on compensation
to accompany the victim to the police station
referral to specialist help from other agencies when appropriate.

If your case goes to court, then Victim Support's Witness Service can arrange a pre-trial visit for you and can provide information and explanation about the legal process. Volunteers can also accompany witnesses into court when they are called to give evidence. The Witness Service provides private waiting areas in court, to ensure that victims and witnesses do not have to sit near the defendant and their family.

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