MORE male victims of sexual assault are using support services – but many are still suffering in silence.
The First Light charity helps all survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence over the age of 16 and wants to raise awareness of what the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Swindon can provide, even if the crimes have not been reported to the police.
The team has been making an effort to encourage men to contact them, so a new campaign has been launched at the start of Sexual Violence Awareness Week to highlight the shocking reality of how many men are affected by these incidents each year.
The centre has seen a 40 per cent increase from 2020 to 2021 in the number of men in the Swindon and Wiltshire area who have contacted the team for support.
The new poster which will be put up around the town shows a packed football stadium full of fans, then reveals the number of men who were sexually assaulted or raped last year was double that amount - 155,000.
A spokesman for the centre said: “We are hoping that if men see the scale of those affected, they will realise that they are not alone. But more importantly, that support is available.
"During the awareness week, events will be taking place nationally, online and across the country, to raise awareness of sexual abuse and violence. By promoting these healthy discussions, we shine a light on what is typically a hidden subject.
"It is First Light’s vision to create a place where we live in safety, free from sexual violence and domestic abuse."
The clients can book an appointment themselves or be referred to the South Marston facility by the police as part of a police investigation.
Either way, they receive practical and emotional support, referrals to counselling services, advice on sexual health, guidance on their safety planning and, if within a certain forensic timeframe, they can supported by a team of experienced crisis workers and forensic nurses through a medical examination to collect forensic evidence.
If the police are involved, the forensic evidence will be included in the crime investigation. If they are not, the results are stored for up to two years to give the victims time to process what happened and consider their options, so that if the police are contacted at a later date, the evidence is still available.
One anonymous client said: "Both the crisis worker and nurse were lovely, all the staff are so helpful."
Throughout this week, the SARC team will be visiting college campuses to promote awareness of the service, share useful material, and have supportive conversations with students and staff. The team will be on Swindon 105.5 on Monday and Wednesday between 11am-12pm to discuss who they are, what they do, and how you can get in touch for advice and support.
Sexual Violence Awareness Week takes place between February 7 and 13 each year to bring together organisations and communities to promote awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence.
Anyone wishing to contact the SARC can call 01793 781916 or visit www.firstlight.org.uk/swindonwiltshiresarc/
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