Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) help to ease any anxiety you have about going to court by explaining and simplifying the complexities of the legal process.
Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) help to ease any anxiety you have about going to court by explaining and simplifying the complexities of the legal process.
The journey of pursuing justice and finding closure through the courts isn’t always straightforward. It requires a huge amount of strength to understand what’s happening and to cope with the emotional turmoil. We will help you through this difficult time: to help you to fight, to process and to emerge on the other side.
ISVA Support Team
You will be contacted by the ISVA Support Team within 24 hours of receipt of the referral. The ISVA Support Team will check in with you every 6 weeks via text and create a plan to meet remotely via Teams/WhatsApp or a phone call every 8 weeks, or less frequently if that’s your preference.
The ISVA Support Team are here for you when you need them, you can contact the support team anytime for support and advice.
Dedicated ISVA
You’ll be assigned a dedicated ISVA when one is available in your area. They will provide continued support, with the option for face-face support, throughout the criminal justice process and accompany you to court if needed.
We also have specific, specially trained ISVAs including:
You can digitally view or download our ISVA leaflets here, or Easy Read here.
The Sexual Violence Advisory service provides support for anyone who has experienced sexual abuse recently or in the past. We can provide support whether you’ve already reported an incident to the police, or you’re looking for more advice on how to do this.
Having a previous conviction does not mean that you cannot receive support from an ISVA, but we do need to know about your previous criminal history to make sure we provide the best support for your needs. You can access our Protocol for Working with Offenders here.
If you have reported the incident to the police or have been supported at a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), you’ll be offered a referral into this service. You can also self-refer. This is a free, confidential and independent service that isn’t linked to the police.
If you wish to feedback on the ISVA service please click here and complete the form.
All referrals will be contacted within 24 hrs (working hours) of receipt of the referral. We’ll ensure you have all the information you need to make informed choices about your future. We will be with you for the entire journey through the criminal justice system and can provide:
