THERE is nothing more rewarding than to be needed at work, but the team at Swindon Sanctuary dearly wish they weren’t.

A huge rise in victims reporting abuse means counsellors and staff at the sexual assault referral centre are on call more than ever before; but in an ideal world they wouldn’t be in the job at all.

“At the moment we’re just trying to cope with the influx and give everybody the support they need and deserve,” says manager Jools James-Kempshall.

“It’s not easy; especially with the rise in cases involving children, it can be challenging yet rewarding. As long as there are victims we’ll be here for them.”

Between October 2014 and September 2015, recorded sex offences in Wiltshire increased by 40.5 per cent compared to the previous 12-month period, rising from 897 to 1,260. This, police insisted, reflected victims’ growing confidence, especially in historic cases of abuse, to come forward in the wake of high-profile cases and post-Savile scandal.

The upsurge in reports, particularly among children and teenagers, has led to greater demand for SARC’s services and a much heavier case workload for its seven-strong team. On average the centre deals with 10 to 15 new as well as 40 historic cases each month.

“Since Jimmy Savile people feel more confident to come forward and have trust in the fact that they will be believed,” says Jools. “In my experience people tried to report it in the 1970s but it wasn’t a subject that was talked about so much – now they almost feel like they’ve been given permission to come forward. That’s a good thing.”

SARC offers victims of both sexes and of any age support, counselling, medical care and forensic examinations following a sexual assault. The onus is on dignity, respect and compassionate care. Until the launch of the centre in 2006, victims reporting abuse were examined at the police station and sent home with little after-care.

The centre moved to its current base, Swindon Sanctuary at The Gables, by the police station, in 2008 and is managed by social enterprise. It works in partnership with the NHS, Wiltshire Police and the local councils. Although partially funded by the police it operates independently from the force.

Since 2006, 3,003 victims have been referred to the centre. Their number has grown exponentially over the past decade from 104 referrals to 508 in 2014-2015. Last year the centre carried out 148 medical examinations.

Victims are either referred to SARC by the police or they can contact the centre’s 24-hour helpline directly.

A forensic examination may be carried out to obtain any traces of DNA left by the attacker (if it is not a historic case) at the centre with the support of a crisis worker.

Adult victims can either choose to report the crime to the police or give ‘a first account’ to a SARC worker – this is kept on file by the service in case they decide to take the case forward at a later date but the information is not shared with the police.

If they do not wish to get the police involved at this early stage, the team will keep any forensic evidence for up to seven years after which time the samples will be destroyed.

There is also an option to submit an anonymous account of the attack to the police and a description of the attacker.

Regardless of their decision, they will be offered counselling and support from one of the centre’s independent sexual violence advisers, who will deliver after-care, carry out home visits, support them through daunting legal proceedings, or accompany them to court for example.

“There is no pressure and that’s very important,” says Jools. “We’re here to make sure the victim is heard, about they want or don’t want to do.

“We don’t push people but we try and support them on that journey. The beauty of SARC is having somebody who won’t judge or give you a push you into making a decision as to which option to take.

“We just listen and help them cope with what happened.”

While rape is prominent among people seeking the service’s help, some victims are referred as a result of a variety of sex offences, including child grooming. Annabelle, 13, is one of them. By the time she came in contact with SARC she had begun self-harming and contemplated suicide.

“I started receiving messages from a boy who I thought was around my age,” she says. “In fact, the messages were coming from a man in his 30s. He started sending indecent pictures of himself and asked me to send him pictures in return. Eventually I did. My parents discovered the exchange of messages and called Wiltshire Police. As part of the investigation I was referred to the SARC. I was very upset by what had happened to me. I was offered a course of therapy sessions with the SARC’s under 16s counsellor and, through talking and writing about my feelings, I was able to explain just how much it had affected me: I had started self-harming and had had thoughts of suicide. Things that no child should have to experience.”

The man who had targeted her was sentenced to three years in jail for sexual grooming of a child under 16 and possessing indecent images of a child. Throughout the trial she received counselling and practical support from the team.

“I had to be really brave and talk about these issues, I was able to get the support I needed – the SARC’s ISVA and counsellor continued to support me throughout and, while the offender was taken to trial, helped me with different ways to cope. I feel like I’m now able to move on with my life.”

Part of the centre’s mission is to educate the community about consent and dispel some of the myths surrounding sexual abuse, which may deter victims from coming forward or prompt them to blame themselves instead of seeking justice.

“A lot of people don’t report crimes because they don’t realise one has been committed, or they think they were to blame because they had been drinking maybe,” adds Jools. “There are many kinds of sexual abuses. But with rape we need to make sure people are aware of what consent means.

“If somebody is intoxicated they can’t give consent. If someone starts having sex and then decides they want to stop you have to respect that. Consent is not the absence of no, it’s a very enthusiastic yes.”

While years of dealing with truly horrific cases have hardened staff in some respects, victims’ distressing accounts of their ordeal continue to move and appal them.

“The day you cease to be moved is the day you need to stop,” says Jill Harris, a sexual violence adviser.

While the memory of the abuse will never fully disappear Jools believes the sooner a victim comes forward and seeks psychological and emotional support, the higher their chance to escape a vicious circle of fear and self-hatred and, potentially, a lifetime of mental health issues.

“It’s proven that if people don’t report it, they are likely to suffer from mental health issues and alcohol or drug dependency, especially in historic cases,” she says. “It can have a huge impact on their life and their relationships.”

Jill adds: “You can’t say that they will be 100 per cent fixed, you can’t take that experience away but you can help them to move on. If they come away from this feeling listened to, empowered and a bit more positive about the future then we’ve done our job.”

SARC’s 24-hour helpline is available on 0808 1680024 or go to swindonsanctuary.co.uk.