Frequently Asked Questions

No.  All of our services are free of charge, apart from our Emotional Support Line which is at a local call rate.

We offer a confidential and anonymous Emotional Support Line, Emotional Support Email, Counselling Services, an ISVA Service, Trauma informed support groups and our Keystone Project to support parents or carers of children and/or young people who have experienced sexual violence. We also offer RSACC Training to professionals.

Yes. Both our one to one support and group support can be offered within a women only environment.

Your support is confidential but there are times when we will have to pass certain information onto a third party, such as the police, social services or your GP. These are if:

• You are actively suicidal.
• You plan to hurt someone else.
• You tell us of a child or adult who is at risk of being harmed.
• You tell us about acts of terrorism.

We will always try to discuss this with you first, support you to have the discussion with the relevant service yourself, and keep you informed. However, if the situation is serious and you are not willing to pass on the information, then we may have to break confidentiality. If you are using more than one of our services we may have to share information about you within our organisation. This will be done on a strictly ‘need-to-know’ basis.

We accept referrals from survivors and from other organisations who have the person’s permission.  We have a waiting list and stay in regular contact with survivors while they wait for our services. You can make a referral for our services online using the secure forms below.

• Organisation Referral Form
• Self Referral Form

To find out more about our other services, please contact us.

• Can I access more than one service at the same time?

Yes. We believe it is up to you to decide which is the right kind of support for you. That may be a mix of our services at the same time or it may be that you chose to only use one of our services.  You can also use different services at different times in your life.  We are here for you when you need us.

Most of our staff and volunteers are women, all have specialist training in sexual violence. 

If you would prefer a male counsellor or ISVA we can arrange this for you.

Every RSACC service supports all survivors of sexual violence who live, work or study in Darlington and County Durham. Our services support all survivors, regardless of sex or gender identity.

Yes. Both our one to one support and group support can be offered within a women only environment.

We offer groups for all survivors of sexual violence. We offer a range of group options, recognising that survivors have different needs. Our groups include;

• Groups for women, inclusive of trans women and non-binary people who feel the space is right for them
• Groups for men, inclusive of trans men and non-binary people who feel the space is right for them
• Single-sex groups, based on sex registered at birth
• Mixed groups for all survivors 

We will explore with you at your assessment which group feels right for you and answer any questions you may have.

Yes, men and boys can access our counselling, our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service, groups and our Emotional Support Line and our Emotional Support Email.

Yes, our Keystone Project provides specialist support for parents and carers of children who have experienced sexual abuse. We understand the profound impact such experiences can have on the adults who care for these children and recognise the limited support available to help navigate these challenges.

Through a combination of one-to-one counselling and group sessions with others who have faced similar experiences, the Keystone Project offers a safe and supportive environment. Here, you can explore your own emotions and responses, learn about topics such as perpetrator behaviour and grooming, and discover practical tools to help you support the affected child.

Sexual violence survivors may not feel like talking to anyone at first but our counselling is available to anyone  no matter when the events took place. Our counselling is offered at a variety of locations across Darlington and County Durham. To read more on this service go to: Counselling. 

Counselling sessions take place in a private setting and last up to an hour.  Your counsellor will help you establish what you need to focus on.  Counselling is about what works for you. Your counsellor won’t give you advice.  They will listen and help you to take back control of your life and move forward in your own time. Counselling can make you feel upset or can bring back memories, so after your session you might need some support or a bit of space.

We have safe, comfortable, counselling rooms in the centre of Darlington and venues in Durham City and Chester le Street. If you prefer to use the telephone or video calls we can arrange this type of support with one of our counsellors.

An ISVA is an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor; a trained specialist who offers independent information, advice and guidance to victims and survivors through the criminal justice system. This can include anyone who is:

1. Thinking about reporting something to the police
2. Involved in a police investigation
3. Going through the court system
4. Involved in other aspects of the criminal justice system.

To read more on this service go to: ISVA Support. If you would like to refer yourself, please do so using our Online Referral Form, or call 01325 354119.

If you have reported to the police and your case is in the criminal justice system we offer you support throughout the whole process, for as long as it takes. However it is always your choice to engage with us and you can stop receiving support at any time.

No, an ISVA can provide independent and non-judgemental information about the police process, to help you make the choice that is right for you. We will respect whatever decision you make about whether to report or not. If you then decide not to report to the police, we can offer you support for a limited period.

Yes, if you feel that we are the right service to offer you support you can access our ISVA service regardless of whether you are engaged in other services.

Yes if you live in Darlington and Co. Durham. In the event of your case proceeding to a trial outside the County Durham area we will do our best to refer you to a local ISVA service for support at trial.

Counselling gives you time to explore emotions and thoughts on a deeper level. It can involve looking at the impact the sexual violence has had over time. It is also led by you, meaning it will go at your pace and will centre around what you want to get from it.

ISVA support is focused on practical information, advice and guidance relating to the criminal justice system, although ISVAs can provide some emotional support and help you understand the impact of the trauma.

We have an Emotional Support Line open during specified times during the week which provides anonymity as well as an opportunity to talk about any distress you may be experiencing or any issues of concern. This service may be used in times of need and calls can last up to an hour. To read more information on our Support Line and to check opening times, go to: Emotional Support Line

Our Emotional Support Email, lets you contact us for confidential emotional and practical support via a secure email address. You will then receive a response in up to 7 days. To read more information on our Support Email and  go to: Emotional Support Email

We offer groups for all survivors of sexual violence. We offer a range of group options, recognising that survivors have different needs. Our groups include:

• Groups for women, inclusive of trans women and non-binary people who feel the space is right for them
• Groups for men, inclusive of trans men and non-binary people who feel the space is right for them
• Single-sex groups, based on sex registered at birth
• Mixed groups for all survivors

We will explore with you at your assessment which group feels right for you and answer any questions you may have.

All our groups create a safe and supportive environment in which survivors can come together to explore common themes, share understanding and support, and reduce feelings of isolation. Sessions are generally a mixture of education and discussion, with opportunities to share your feelings, but no pressure to do so. All groups are delivered by an experienced coordinator and supported by a specially trained volunteer who can provide 1:1 emotional support if needed.

We offer our groups at a range of accessible locations across Darlington and County Durham as well as online. Recently in-person groups have taken place in Chester le Street, Darlington, Durham City, and Newton Aycliffe. We deliver groups through the day as well as in the evenings as we know that everyone has different availability.

Before any group work starts, you will have a one to one conversation with our group coordinator who will talk through what to expect from a group, what to do if you recognise someone, what can and can’t be shared, how we manage confidentiality and much more. This allows everyone who will be attending to know what to expect, and make an informed decision about whether they would like to join a group or not.

We completely understand how scary coming along to a group session can be – you’re absolutely not alone in feeling that. We will do all we can to support you, and would encourage you to try and come to a session. If it’s not for you or it’s not the right time there is no pressure to continue, but you may find that it’s just what you need. Check out the feedback from past group members to hear what they would tell you (see below).

These answers are from survivors who have previously attended our groups.

• “It is completely your choice, but it will help, you’re going to be in a safe, warm and caring environment. Everyone is so understanding and is so sensitive to each other’s feelings.”
• “100% do it, it will help you start your journey to find you again and understand what happened wasn’t your fault!”
• “I know the thought of attending is scary + nerve-wracking but you will learn so much and feel validated and heard.”
• “If I met anyone in the same situation as me I would definitely recommend to them to go to this group, it was life changing. I’ve made some new friends that I can trust to gently talk about these things, that is massive for me. The group has been so important and impactful for my wellbeing.”
• “Definitely give it a go. You might decide that it’s not for you but you’ve got nothing to lose by trying. I normally don’t ‘do’ groups but attending has helped male me feel more confident. Everyone helped each other out.”
• “I would encourage them to give it a go, they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. They will be supported all the way by the amazing, professional caring people.”
• “Absolutely do! You won’t feel alone, you’ll be heard. It’s hard but it’s so worth it! You’ll learn something and take something away from every session.”
• “Even if you think you’re ‘beyond help’ or ‘too damaged’, you’re not. The group helped me with my mental health in ways I didn’t think were possible for me.”