Women want access to women-only services following sexual assault

Date: January 2008

97% of women want the right to choose a women-only service following sexual assault but their access to women-only rape support services is being threatened.

Research carried out jointly by Women’s Resource Centre and Rape Crisis (England and Wales) reveal the current dire state of the Rape Crisis sector. Results so far indicate that even the largest Rape Crisis centre is small, relative to other voluntary sector organisations, and many services run on a shoe-string budget.

This is despite the fact that an estimated 80,000 women suffer rape and attempted rape every year. Demand for support services is very high and chronic under-funding has meant that Rape Crisis centres have a severe lack of capacity to meet such high demand. This is resulting in long waiting lists and vulnerable women having to be turned away. This is not appropriate for a ‘crisis’ centre.

Key facts concerning Rape Crisis centres in the UK:

• There are only 38 Rape Crisis centres, run by charities, voluntary organisations and community groups, in England and Wales.
• In 1985 there were 68 Rape Crisis centres. By 1990, this had fallen to 50.
• In London, there is only 1 rape crisis centre (in Croydon) to serve the whole of the city.
• On average two Rape Crisis centres are closing a year.

This research will provide an in-depth and accurate picture of the current state of funding and service provision across all Rape crisis centres in England and Wales. Women have the right to access safe, supportive and expert care that focuses on their needs. With this research, the Government can no longer ignore the current patchy service provision that is resulting in a postcode lottery.

WRC and Rape Crisis (England and Wales) are calling on the Government to provide stable, secure and sustainable funding for Rape Crisis centres.

[ENDS]

• The research will be launched on March 18th (this is a provisional date to be confirmed)
• The Cross-Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse (April 2007) makes a strong case for the sustainable funding of sexual violence support services. http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/sexualoffences/sexual03.htm
• Rape Crisis (England and Wales) is the umbrella body for Rape Crisis Centres. www.rapecrisis.org.uk
• Women’s Resource Centre is a leading umbrella body for women’s voluntary and community organisations. www.wrc.org.uk
• The statistic at the beginning of this press release is from WRC’s Why women-only? report (2007).