The SARC is the first point of contact if you’ve experienced rape and sexual assault in Wiltshire.
The SARC is the first point of contact if you’ve experienced rape and sexual assault in Wiltshire.
At the Swindon and Wiltshire Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), we offer immediate help to anyone who has experienced a recent or non-recent rape or sexual assault in Wiltshire. If you’ve been raped or sexually assaulted, no matter how long ago, you can contact the SARC directly with or without police involvement. It’s a safe place where you’ll find confidential practical and emotional support from our team of specialist staff.
For information and advice, you can contact the Swindon and Wiltshire SARC by calling 01793 781916 and speaking to one of our specialist trained crisis workers.
If you have experienced a recent rape or sexual assault you may be offered an appointment to visit SARC.
The SARC team can provide:
Sexual offence examiners are a team of highly skilled and experienced doctors and nurses who are trained to carry out a range of interventions to support you during your time at the SARC.
These include:
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You can make an appointment to attend the SARC by contacting us on 01793 781916. When you call you will be given an explanation of the options available to you, as well as an appointment if that is what you choose. An appointment at the SARC can be made without police involvement.
If you call the police, they will arrange the appointment for you and accompany you to the SARC. A specially trained officer will look after you.
You may be offered a forensic medical examination to collect and document forensic evidence. If you decide to, a forensic medical examination will be completed as sensitively as possible by a specialist doctor or nurse known as a Sexual Offences Examiner. The decision to go ahead with this examination is entirely up to you and can be carried out whether or not you choose to involve the police. You can choose to stop the examination at any time.
Forensic medical examinations are best carried out as soon as possible following an assault, Forensic medical examinations offer the opportunity to retrieve evidence that could be used if and when you choose to report to the police.
Following the examination, the sexual offence examiner will discuss with you other areas of wellbeing such as screening for sexual infections and any concerns surrounding possible pregnancy. They will offer you the option to make onward referrals to sexual health and your GP for follow-up support.
You’ll also be supported by a crisis worker who will ensure you have the best support put in place for you after your SARC appointment.
We understand that dealing with the effects of rape or sexual assault can be very difficult and take time to resolve. To help you through this, the SARC can provide access to:
In summary, the team is able to:
