COMMUNITY INDEPENDENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE ADVISOR (ISVA)
Our Community ISVAs offer practical and emotional support for women in Oxfordshire who are considering reporting an experience of sexual violence, or who have already reported to the police. They can offer support with the reporting process, accompany women to meetings, and advocate on their behalf with the police and other agencies. We can also sometimes provide practical support with other issues related to the sexual violence you have experienced - e.g. housing, employment issues etc.
There is currently a FOUR MONTH waiting time for our Community ISVA Service. The Victims First Specialist Service may be able to offer support more quickly. You can contact them on 0300 1234 148.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY INDEPENDENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE ADVISOR (ISVA)
Our specialist university ISVA offers specialist advice, support and advocacy to students at the University of Oxford to help you come to decisions about what is right for you. The ISVA is employed by OSARCC and is independent from the university. She can provide you with impartial information about your options following an experience of sexual violence, including reporting to the police or the university. If you decide to report, or have already reported, she can support you throughout the criminal justice process. She can accompany you to meetings and advocate on your behalf with the police and other agencies.
THERAPEUTIC SERVICES
Our therapeutic services include both support groups and one-to-one counselling. There is currently a significant waiting list for both services of around a year, but we are working on ways to reduce this.
We also run fortnightly drop-in groups which are open to any woman who has been assessed for our adult services. Our drop-in group aims to help survivors connect with each other and with themselves. We do that through creative activities, hands-off body work such as Reiki and yoga, and by learning how to manage the physical and emotional effects of trauma and sexual violence. We meet twice a month, alternating between days and evenings.
SEE PROJECT
SEE is a service supporting girls and young women survivors of sexual violence aged 14 - 18 years old. We offer specialist one to one support including both one-to-one counselling and empowerment work (practical and emotional support to build up self-esteem, assertiveness, emotional resilience and improve well-being).