Where to get help for sexual assault

There's people out there to talk to about sexual abuse

Around 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men in the UK have been sexually assaulted. Whilst each survivor's story is unique, you never need to be alone - there are many places which give help and support - and it is up to you who you speak to and how much you tell them.

This is what one survivor said of the help she received from her local sexual assault support centre "I don't underestimate the work you did, and how important you were to my recovery."

How can I tell if I've been sexually assaulted?

Sexual assault involves any act of a sexual nature, physical or psychological, that's inflicted on you without your consent. If you didn't freely choose to receive it or give it, you didn't consent to it. There are many potential acts of sexual violence - verbal sexual harassment, groping, sexual bribery, and rape are some examples.

Remember, you have the right to refuse or take back your consent at any time. For instance, if you've freely chosen to perform a sexual act with your partner in the past, this doesn't mean you have to consent to this again - and if you are forced, threatened, or coerced into doing it again, this is sexual assault.

Where can I get sexual assault help?

Below we cover the different places you can turn to for help after sexual assault, and how to find the support service options for where you live.

The police can help gather forensic evidence should you feel able to report the incident, and they can also refer you to support services in your area.

Emergency healthcare

If the incident has just happened, the most important thing is that you try and get somewhere where you feel safe. It can be hard to think if you're in shock, but have you been hurt? If you need urgent care in the UK, call 999 or get to the nearest A&E if you can.

As well as treating injuries, hospital staff can check you for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy if appropriate, and can help connect you with ongoing specialist support from a local Sexual Health Referral Centre (SARC).

Codeword schemes

If you're already with an abuser - maybe living with them - are out with one, or anyone is making you feel unsafe, there are ways you can alert someone that you need help in a safe way?

Across the UK, codename schemes have emerged to enable you to raise the alarm in lots of public spaces.

Ask for ANI (pronounced Annie)

What: More than half of UK pharmacies are enrolled in the Ask for ANI scheme. If you are experiencing domestic abuse or any other kind of sexual assault, you can safely and confidentially let a pharmacist know, by saying "Can I ask for ANI please?".

ANI stands for action needed immediately, and the pharmacist will then take you to a private room where they can help you contact the police, a family member, or domestic abuse services.

Where: all UK pharmacies, including Lloyds, Boots, and community pharmacies.

Ask for Angela

What: If you're out and feel unsafe for any reason, approach venue staff and Ask for Angela. Like with Ask for ANI, they will lead you to a safe space and help you. The support they offer could be anything, from calling you a taxi to calling their own security team or the police.

Where: Many UK pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants, and other licensed businesses. Usually, the venue will advertise an Ask for Angela poster - often in the women's toilets - to show their participation.

Helplines and live chats

Although it can be very difficult, confiding in someone is a crucial first step to accessing support. A phone call, text, or online chat with a trained specialist can help you find the best resources and tools to help you.

These are some of the most trusted helplines and live chats offering sexual assault support across the UK. However, there are many more voluntary organisations which offer this service.

Sexual health referral centres (SARCs)

SARCs, or Sexual Health Referral Centres, are located across the UK. These places offer emotional support, medical checks, practical support, and legal advice for survivors of rape or sexual assault.

If you've been sexually assaulted or raped in the last seven days, you can self-refer to a SARC. The NHS provide a useful location finder for your nearest SARC. If it's been longer than seven days, your local GP, hospital A&E, sexual health clinic, or the police can refer you to your nearest SARC to aid your recovery.

Patient picks for Other sexual health

Sexual health

Preparing for your smear test as a survivor of sexual violence

"I remember a viral tweet a few years ago that said: 'If you don't go for your smear test, you're stupid. It takes minutes and it can save your life'," recalls 41-year-old Sam*. "Everyone was retweeting it but it was so overly reductive that, as a survivor of sexual violence, it was difficult to read. I mean, sure, it does take minutes, and it's usually fine, but I knew it wasn't ever that simple."

by Sarah Graham

Sexual health

Sexual assault

This leaflet discusses sexual assault and sexual violence. If you are reading this leaflet it may be that you have experienced sexual violence, or that you are trying to offer support to someone who has experienced sexual violence. This leaflet describes feelings and difficulties survivors of sexual violence may experience. It offers some guidance on how they might help their recovery. It cannot hope to describe the way every survivor will feel. It discusses the things that survivors say have helped them and it tries to answer questions you might have about the physical and psychological effects of rape and sexual violence. It also offers suggestions on where to find support.

by Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP

Local sexual assault support charities

There are also many voluntary organisations offering community-based support, including practical advice, one-on-one counselling, group work, self-help resources, and more. The Survivors Trust is an umbrella organisation for rape and sexual assault services in the UK. Their finder tool can help you locate a service in your local area.

For women and girls, Rape Crisis centres - one of the UK's largest providers of free sexual assault support - may be their first point of contact, while men and boys might want to go to Male Survivors Partnership. There are also organisations that specialise in other vulnerable groups. If you belong to one of these groups, it might be that you feel more understood, find the support offered more relevant, or benefit from connecting with their community of survivors.

Here are just some examples of trusted sexual assault charities and who they're for:

• For adult survivors of domestic abuse - The Dash Charity.

• For survivors of childhood rape and sexual assault - One in Four.

• For Black and minoritised women and girl survivors - Imkaan.

• For male survivors - Male Survivors Partnership.

• For LGBTQIA+ survivors - Galop.

Here we speak to a support centre in Surrey, about the kind of sexual assault support you can expect from these organisations throughout the country

Sexual assault in the cost-of-living crisis

Domestic abuse

In the last few years, a pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have entrapped many people in their homes with abusers. The lockdowns in 2020-21 fuelled sexual violence within the home. These physical restrictions have been replaced with financial ones, many not being able to afford to move out of their homes to escape abuse.

Devonport, CEO at RASASC Surrey-based charity, says: "We have seen a significant increase - 47% - in young people aged 13-25 coming to us for help since the pandemic. We are currently running a Crowdfunder to raise the money to train specialist sessional workers that can help us meet this demand."

Lack of funding

While cases of domestic abuse may be increasing, funding pots for survivor support services are depleting. This lack of investment is having a big impact on the accessibility and quality of these much-needed services.

Across the UK, charities are urging both local and national authorities to act. While one-off injections of money can do good, effective long-term planning and funding are needed to ensure that support services can always keep their doors open to those in need¹.

If you need to stop others from knowing you have been reading this feature, have visited abuse support sites, or want to stay safe online Womens Aid shows you how to cover your tracks online here.

Further reading

1. Womensgrid: Violence against women and girls funding review: analysis of responses - Scottish Government.