Professionals blog
A UK study on pregnancy after rape: Little Ro’s reflections & contributions (part 3)
Content note: This post shares themes from research with women who have raised a child conceived through rape. There are no graphic details, but some readers may find the material emotionally difficult. Please take care of yourself while reading, and feel free to pause or stop at any point.
A UK study on pregnancy after rape: themes, insights & limitations (part 2)
Content note: This blog shares themes from research with women who have raised a child conceived through rape. There are no graphic details, but some readers may find the material emotionally difficult. Please take care of yourself while reading, and feel free to pause or stop at any point.
A UK study on rape pregnancy: shaping the research idea (part 1)
Content note: This blog discusses rape‑pregnancy. There are no graphic details, but some readers may find the topic difficult. Please take care of yourself while reading.
Are your staff prepared to respond to sexual harassment and abuse, support disclosures, and have confident conversations about sensitive topics?
We understand that ensuring compliance with different laws and regulations can feel overwhelming at times, and finding the right courses to meet your needs can often feel confusing.
Are you fully up to date on workplace sexual harassment laws and regulations and confident you are compliant?
We understand that ensuring compliance with different laws and regulations can feel overwhelming at times, and finding the right courses to meet your needs can often feel confusing.
Reflections from the other end of the helpline
I’ve been volunteering on the helpline for a year now, and I wanted to take a moment during Volunteers Week to reflect on what that experience has been like for me and what I’ve learnt along the way.
Meet the Team: Specialist Support Work (SSW)
We caught up with Ellie and Flo, two of our Specialist Support Workers, to explore what a typical day looks like for them and why the emotional, practical, and advocacy support their team offers can be so beneficial to those who come to SARSAS.
Meet the Team: Learning Disabilities & Autism (LDA) specialist support
We sat down with Georgie, our Learning Disabilities and Autism (LDA) Art Therapist, and Molly, one of our LDA Specialist Support Workers, to find out more about what they get up to day-to-day, and why LDA expertise is so important for people that come to SARSAS.
What is the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA)?
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a UK government organisation that runs a compensation scheme for victims of violent crime in England, Scotland, and Wales.
When convenience becomes control: understanding technology-facilitated abuse in smart homes
Smart home devices are designed to make life easier: lights that switch on with your voice, a camera that tells you who’s at the door, and heating you can adjust from your phone.
What is a sexual assault referral centre (SARC)?
A SARC can offer free, confidential medical, practical and emotional support to people who have been raped, sexually abused or assaulted at any point in their lives. They’re usually provided by the NHS, but will always have specially trained doctors, nurses and support workers.
Be the change: how to be an Active Bystander
We can all be bystanders. Every day events unfold around us. At some point, we will register someone in danger. When this happens, we can decide to do or say something (and become an active bystander), or to let it go (and remain a passive bystander).
The power of creativity in healing: songs of survival
Recently, two people reached out to us independently, each having recorded a song about their personal experiences of sexual violence. Their powerful and deeply moving songs serve as a testament to resilience, and we’re honoured they asked us to share their work.
What is Spiking?
Spiking can happen to anyone anywhere – no matter their age, gender, sexuality or ethnicity. It can be carried out by strangers or by people you know.
The impact of trauma on pregnancy, birth & parenthood
Becoming a parent is a life-changing experience, and for many, it can also be a challenging one. If you’ve experienced rape or sexual abuse, the past trauma can feel like a heavy weight, influencing your experiences throughout pregnancy, birth, and the early stages of parenthood.
5 FREE resources: to help you start healing
We understand that whether you’re on our waitlist, unsure if 1:1 support is the right fit for you, or simply exploring what feels most comfortable, the choices and options available can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Why choose SARSAS? 7 key benefits of our Sexual Harassment training
Creating safer, more inclusive workplaces has never been more important. At SARSAS, we specialise in delivering sexual harassment training that’s professional yet personal, practical yet impactful.
Struggling with showering? You’re not alone
Many people have experienced this after sexual violence. It can feel overwhelming for a range of reasons, and that’s okay. Here’s a space to explore what might be making washing feel difficult, along with some gentle suggestions that may make it a little easier.
Online Safety Act 2023: what might happen in practice? (Part 3)
In the third and final of our series of blogs looking at the Act, SARSAS comms volunteer, Toby, gives an overview of the act, how it has been implemented so far and what might come next.
Sleep and trauma
Sleep is crucial for everyone. However, for victim-survivors of sexual violence, it can play a vital role in allowing the brain and body to start healing, processing emotions, and restoring energy levels, which are often depleted after experiencing trauma.
Online Safety Act 2023: what protections are there for women and girls? (Part 2)
Online violence against women and girls is a striking issue in the UK, with many people largely unaware of the abuse perpetrated online.
Campaign to include protections for women & girls in the Online Safety Act 2023 (Part 1)
Online violence against women and girls is a striking issue in the UK, with many people largely unaware of the abuse perpetrated online.
Somatic Therapy: connecting body and mind
Healing from any kind of trauma can be a challenging process. However, there are many techniques that people might find beneficial to explore as part of their healing journey.
Neuroplasticity: the power of the brain in healing after sexual violence
An experience of rape or sexual abuse can impact us physically, emotionally, and psychologically. It’s common to struggle with feelings of shame, self-blame, and negative thoughts afterwards.
Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023: what does it hope to achieve?
In the first of a series of articles looking into laws affecting victim-survivors of sexual violence, our volunteer communications officer, Toby, explores the positive impacts and potential issues of this new bill.
What next for people with lived experience when the justice process fails?
I usually enjoy my job as a trauma counsellor for SARSAS – it’s a privilege to participate in clients’ recovery journeys. However, I find supporting clients who have had negative experiences while seeking justice some of the saddest journeys, and the ones most likely to invoke my anger at the injustices within this broken system.
What is the Window of Tolerance?
Have you heard of the Window of Tolerance?
We talk about the window of tolerance a lot in our support and group work and many victim-survivors find it helpful as a way of understanding some of their responses to trauma.
Why we keep telling women to “stay safe” on nights out and why it is such a problem
Our comms volunteer shares her thoughts on sexual violence at university and on nights out and discusses what needs to change.
