PRESS RELEASE 23/07/2019 First Light are pleased to announce the expansion of their sexual violence counselling provision in Plymouth to include victims of historic sexual abuse. The charity is asking people in Plymouth to get in touch if they have been affected by sexual violence to see if the therapy service is appropriate for [...]
A crisis worker is a highly trained, yet compassionate and empathetic professional, who is skilled at supporting people at a time of trauma and personal crisis. All of our crisis workers have been selected on the basis of their integrity and openness. They know how important it is for your voice to be heard [...]
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary are committed to supporting those who have experienced rape or serious sexual assault. They have specially trained officers - Sexual Offences Liaison Officers (SOLOs) who can assist you through the Criminal Justice process, if that is what you decide you want to do. This information has been put together by Devon [...]
A forensic medical examination is an invaluable way to collect evidence against a perpetrator. Since the great majority of victims know their assailant, the purpose of the medical examination is often not to establish identity but to establish non-consensual sexual contact. A forensic medical examination is carried out by a qualified Forensic Physician (FP) with [...]
If you have been the victim of sexual abuse you may be able to claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This kind of criminal injury wrecks lives and can have a far more deep rooted effect on the victim than a violent physical assault. Some people struggle with the thought of claiming [...]
Ensuring that stereotyping older people is to be avoided, experience shows that some older people may feel less able to access services; they may be less able to access services; they may be less aware than younger people of the services and options available to them; or they may believe that services are only for [...]
What is consent? Consensual sex is when both parties, being of legal age, agree to engage in intercourse by choice and they have the freedom and capacity to make that choice. This is agreeing to sexual relations without fear, coercion, force or intimidation. Giving consent is active, not passive. It means freely choosing to say [...]
If you have been a victim of sexual violence, you may be experiencing a wide range of emotions and reactions that can be very upsetting. This is quite normal for someone who has been through such a traumatic experience. You may feel: Shock and numbness Shame and humiliation Distress Fear Anger Guilt and self- blame [...]
The immediate hours and days after a sexual assault can be traumatic, distressing and chaotic, and we appreciate that you may be feeling emotional, distracted and numb. However, it is our job to ensure you're safe, well and healthy, so it's very important to seek advice about emergency contraception, sexual health treatment and pregnancy. If [...]
What Happens at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)? First Light has two SARC's – The Cove in Plymouth and the Willow Centre in Truro. 1. How long will an examination last? 2. Who will be present at the examination? 3. Can a friend or family member come in with me? 4. Does the examination hurt? [...]