History
Our roots are in the feminist rape crisis movement that emerged in 2008 in response to violence against women and girls.
Our roots are as a feminist, women-led organisation that started in 2008 as Bristol Rape Crisis.
We started with 2 women, one phone, and a handful of amazing volunteers. From there on we worked tirelessly to continue to grow and develop to support as many people affected by sexual violence as possible.
We grew to cover the whole of Avon and Somerset
In 2013 we received funding to offer support to people across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, or South Gloucestershire. The staff team grew and we started providing much needed counselling services.
Going from strength to strength
We now have nearly 50 members of staff and 30 volunteers. We run new, innovative support services, and national projects, alongside our original helpline that has provided a lifeline for victim-survivors since 2008. We became proudly trans-inclusive and continue to work on our equality, diversity, and inclusion to ensure that no one is left behind.
National recognition
In 2021, we were thrilled to win a GSK Impact Award.
This award recognised our significant impact in the community and commitment to supporting survivors of sexual violence in Avon and Somerset area.
Following a rigorous selection and assessment process of more than 350 charities across the UK, we were chosen as one of 10 winners of the 2021 GSK IMPACT Awards which recognises the outstanding work of small and medium sized charities working to improve health and well-being across the UK.
In this section
The latest from our news and blogs
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.
Why workplace sexual harassment training is a financial investment
Last year, SARSAS reached out to the financial sector, training staff at Digby Associates in Sexual Harassment at Work, as part of our continued efforts and collaborations to create safe, inclusive workplaces where staff can thrive and, together, we can prevent sexual violence.
