Advocacy Services
A Children & Young People’s Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ChISVA) is a special worker who can help you and provide support to you if you have experienced rape, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation at any time in your life.
Together you and the ChISVA will work out what your needs are, and any possible risks you may be facing. Then your ChISVA will be able to create a support plan to make sure your needs are covered, and your risks reduced.
Your ChISVA will support you through the criminal justice process and explain every part of the process with you. If you have not been to the police, your ChISVA will talk to you about your options, and if you do choose to go to the police, they will support you with that.
Your ChISVA will help you to access any sexual health or medical attention you may need. They will also help with support from other agencies, like counselling or housing services.
Your ChISVA will never tell you what you should or shouldn’t do, but they will support you to understand and help inform your choices.
When you agree to the support, you will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. If you tell us any information that is relevant to the police investigation or court proceedings, your ChISVA will encourage you to share this information with the police or the CPS.
The FISVA will support families to address:
In addition to supporting survivors of sexual abuse and violence, we also offer independent sexual violence advocacy to the supporters of survivors, most commonly parents, partners, and family members. This support is delivered by a FISVA, Family Independent Sexual Violence Advocate. 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.
- Practical support for those involved with the criminal justice process.
- Information and support to empower people to make informed choices.
- The aftermath of disclosure.
- The impacts of abuse.
- Development and maintenance of healthy coping strategies.
- Improving relationships and communication within the family.
- Coping strategies to address changing family dynamics.
- Victim blaming, myths and stereotypical views of Sexual Violence.
- Perpetrator motivations and grooming techniques.
For further information about our advocacy services please call our Navigators on 01905 969777 or alternatively e-mail referrals@wmrsasc.org.uk
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.