Cambridge & Peterborough Rape Crisis Partnership
The Cambridge and Peterborough Rape Crisis Partnership (CAPRCP) comprises two independent dedicated specialist sexual violence organisations, Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC) and Peterborough Rape Crisis Care Group (PRCCG). The partnership has over 40 years’ experience in the design and delivery of specialist support services to survivors of rape and sexual abuse, regardless of when the abuse happened.
Our core purpose is to alleviate the psychological and emotional trauma that affects survivors of sexual violence and assist them to overcome both the short and long-term effects of sexual violence whilst they work to regain control of their lives and make positive decisions about their future.
Specialist Services For Survivors of Sexual Violence
Both CRCC and PRCCG provide specialist sexual violence services to women, men and children who have experienced sexual violence and/or sexual abuse at any point in their lives. This includes but is not restricted to: rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, rape within marriage/relationships, forced marriage, so-called honour-based violence, female genital mutilation, trafficking, child sexual exploitation, institutional sexual abuse and ritual abuse.
All our specialist services are free at the point of access and are available to survivors whether they choose to report to the police or not.
Therapeutic Support
CAPRCP offer free face-to-face emotional support and counselling sessions for survivors of sexual violence on a weekly or fortnightly basis by the same support worker or counsellor. Our workers and volunteers will not judge survivors or tell them what to do but will help them to try to make sense of what has happened – they are there to walk alongside survivors on their journey from cope to recover.
Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVA)
Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs) offer practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted, recently or in the past, and help you to access other available support services to address both short and long term needs. They can support you through the criminal justice system, providing information on what happens when you report to the police. You do not have to report to the police to get support from an ISVA. They can help those who are not reporting access support for their emotional needs as well as help with safety planning.
ISVAs will support you in a non-judgmental way to work with you to identify your needs and ensure that other agencies provide you with information.
The CAPRCP ISVA service can help you with a range of things depending on your needs and what kind of support you would like. They can:
- Provide you with impartial information on the criminal justice process and what you can expect if you report to the police. They can also support you through the criminal justice system and following a trial.
- Give you information on health and well-being services and accompany you to your first appointment.
- Help you to think about your safety and what can be done to improve your safety.
- Provide emotional support.
- Advocate on your behalf to enable you to exert some influence on processes that concern you.
- Provide practical help with issues such as housing and benefits.
- Put you in touch with or refer you to other services that may benefit you, such as specialist counselling, domestic violence support, sexual health, mental health, substance misuse and housing.
- Assist you to apply for criminal injuries compensation.
HELPLINES
CAPRCP offer a confidential service of listening support provided over the telephone. Our volunteers will listen to survivors and help them find ways to express difficult feelings and talk about difficult situations. We never tell survivors what to do, nor do we offer advice or try to influence decisions. We can also provide information on other support services and explore self-help techniques.
CAMBRIDGE HELPLINE
| Wednesday | 7:00pm – 9:30pm |
| Sunday | 10:00am – 12:30pm |
Email support: support@cambridgerapecrisis.org.uk
01223 245 888
NATIONAL 24/7 RAPE AND SEXUAL ABUSE SUPPORT LINE
| Monday | Open 24 hours | ||
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours | ||
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours | ||
| Thursday | Open 24 hours | ||
| Friday | Open 24 hours | ||
| Saturday | Open 24 hours | ||
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |