Advocacy Services
At WMRSASC, there are several ISVA services available:
- Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs) who work with all individuals aged 18 and over who have experienced any form of rape or sexual abuse at any time in their lives. Click here for more details.
- Children & Young People’s Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ChISVAs) who work with children and young people aged 5 to 17 years. Click here for more details.
- Family Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (FISVAs) who work with supporters of survivors, most commonly parents, partners and family members. The FISVA role enables the youngest survivors of sexual violence, those aged 5 and under, to receive support through the FISVA engagement with their parent or carer. Click here for more details.
Specialist ISVA services:
LGBTQIA+ ISVA – For more information click here
Culturally Responsive ISVA (CRISVA) – for more information click here
Additional Needs ISVA – For more information click here
Values from which the ISVA works
- To believe.
- To be non-judgemental.
- To recognise survival strategies.
- To enable survivors of sexual violence to retain control.
- To recognise it is an individual’s decision whether they report to the police.
- To empower and enable survivors of sexual violence.
- To validate feelings whatever they are.
- To dispel the myths around rape and sexual abuse.
- To treat all survivors of sexual violence as individuals.
We recognise how hard it is for you to get in touch and we will do all we can to support you. Once contact with us has been made, one of our team will call to explain the service further and answer any questions. They will then allocate an ISVA, who will get in touch to arrange an initial assessment. Anything discussed will be in the strictest confidence and no information will be shared with other agencies without your consent unless it involves matters of child protection, or someone at risk of serious harm.
For further information about our advocacy services please call our Navigators on 01905 969777 or alternatively email referrals@wmrsasc.org.uk
The ISVA service accepts both self-referrals and referrals from other agencies or representatives by calling our Navigators on 01905 969777 or completing the forms below:
My ISVA has been the one consistent source of support over the entirety of this journey, continually caring, non-judgemental and approachable.
The following self-referral form can be completed if you’re 14 and over, or if younger, a parent or carer can complete the form on your behalf.
Alternatively, a professional (nurse, doctor, social worker, etc) can refer you to us using this form.