sexual assault referral centres

What is a SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre)?

SARCs are specialist 24/7 services for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted.

They aim to be one-stop services, providing the following under one roof: medical care and forensic examination following assault/rape, counselling and – in some locations – sexual health services. Services are free of charge and provided to men, women, young people and children (although not all centres may currently be able to assist children).

SARCs are mostly able to assist in the immediate aftermath of an assault but do not offer long term services that are provided by Rape Crisis Centres. For example the London based SARCs called The Havens can be accessed up to one year post assault only. SARCs are funded and run in partnership, usually between the NHS, police and the voluntary sector with a variety of existing service delivery models.

Most SARCs are able to offer services to anyone including those who do not wish to report the assault to the police (‘self referrals'). Service users can then chose whether they would like to inform the police at a later stage and have their samples stored whilst they are considering what to do next. It is hoped that through this option service users can take back some control over what is happening whilst allowing more time to make such an important decision.

In order to preserve any evidence that may be present it is vital that help from the SARC is accessed as immediately as possible after an assault. In addition, SARCs can advise on and assist with other medical needs. For information and to book an appointment, phone the SARC nearest to you, go to http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/sexual-offences/sexual-assault-referral-centres/referral-centre-locations/

The Home Office has committed to having one SARC per police force by 2011. Should you need to access a SARC and there is none in your area you could try to phone the next nearest SARC to see if they can assist or alternatively consider reporting the assault to the police who can then arrange for an examination by a medical specialist.

List of Centres

DERBY
Millfield House
PO Box 142
Codnor
Derby DE1 2HF
Tel: 01733 573840/1

DURHAM
The Meadows
John Street (North)
Meadowfield
Durham DH7 8RS
Tel: 0191 301 8554
www.themeadowsdurham.org.uk

HAMPSHIRE
The Treetops Centre
Northern Road
Cosham
Portsmouth PO6 3EP
Tel: 02392210352

KENT
Renton Clinic
Darent Valley Hospital
Dartford
Kent DA2 8DA
Tel: 01322 428 595

LANCASHIRE
Lancashire SAFE Centre
Royal Preston Hospital
Sharoe Green Lane
Fulwood
Preston PR2 9HT
Tel: 01772 523344
www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk
safe@lthtr.nhs.uk

LEICESTER
Juniper Lodge Sexual Assault Response Centre
Lodge One
Leicestershire General Hospital
Gwendolen Road
Leicester LE5 4PW
Tel and Fax: 0116 273 5461
24 hour helpline: 0116 273 3330
juniperlodge@ukonline.co.uk

LONDON
Haven - Camberwell
King's College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London SE5 9RS
Tel: 020 7346 1599 (9am - 5pm Monday to Friday)
or 020 7737 4000 at all other times
www.thehavens.org.uk

Haven - Paddington
St Marys Hospital
Praed Street
London W2 1NY
Tel: 020 7886 1101 (9am - 5pm Monday to Friday)
or 020 7886 6666 at all other times 
www.thehavens.org.uk

Haven - Whitechapel
The Royal London Hospital
9 Brady Street
London E1 5BD
Tel: 020 7247 4787 at any time
www.thehavens.org.uk

MANCHESTER
St. Mary's Centre
St. Mary's Hospital
Hathersage Road
Manchester M13 0JH
Tel: 0161 276 6515
www.stmaryscentre.org
stmarys.sarc@cmmc.nhs.uk

NORTHUMBRIA
The Reach Centres Ellis Fraser Centre in Sunderland
Tel: 0191 212 1551

Rhona Cross Centre in Newcastle
Tel: 0191 565 3725 Website:
www.reachcentre.org.uk
info@reachcentre.org.uk

SOUTH WALES
Laburnum House
Tredegar Street
Risca
Gwent NP11 6BU
Tel: 01495 233971

New Pathways
Willow House
57- 58 Lower Thomas Street
Merthyr Tydfil CF47 0DA
Tel: 01685 379 310
www.newpathways.co.uk
enquiries@newpathways.co.uk

WEST MIDLANDS
The Rowan Centre
2 Ida Road
Walsall
West Midlands WS2 9SR
Tel: 01922 644 329 (8.30 - 5.30 Monday to Friday)
24 hour emergency line: 0800 73 111 62
Fax: 01922 622233
www.crisispoint.org.uk
crisis_point@btconnect.com

WILTSHIRE
The New Swindon Sanctuary
Sexual Assault Referral Centre
The Gables
Shrivenham Road
South Marston
Swindon SN3 4RB
Open overnight 7pm - 7am Mon - Sat
& throughout the weekend, (after 1pm Saturday)
Tel: 01793 709 512
Fax: 01793 709 513
http://www.swindonpct.nhs.uk/our_services/sanctuary.htm

info@swindonsanctuary.co.uk