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Rape Crisis National Service Standards

Victims and survivors deserve access to consistent, high-quality services.

Our 2024 Rape Crisis National Service Standards (RCNSS) ensures our member Rape Crisis Centres provide this.

About the RCNSS

The 2024 Rape Crisis National Service Standards (RCNSS) are a set of specialist quality standards for organisations delivering sexual violence and abuse support and advocacy services from a feminist perspective.

First produced in 2008, the RCNSS have been developed and adapted over time to ensure that they continue to align with current best practice. They were most recently refreshed in 2024, with funding support from the Home Office.

What this means for organisations

Developed by Rape Crisis England & Wales, in partnership with Rape Crisis Scotland, organisations must be independent, community-based and trauma-informed in order to meet these standards.

They must also demonstrate that they provide confidential, specialist services to victims and survivors of all forms of sexual violence and abuse from a feminist perspective.

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What does the RCNSS cover?

To achieve accreditation, all Rape Crisis Centres must meet Standards 1-4:

  • Standard 0: Specialist Service Provision 

All RCEW members, Full or Associate, must meet this standard as a minimum.

  • Standard 1: Strong Leadership
  • Standard 2: Responsive to Survivors 
  • Standard 3: Safe Practice 
  • Standard 4: Lasting Impact 
Read more about the RCNSS
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Working towards the RCNSS

To be a Rape Crisis England & Wales member, organisations must meet the RCNSS.

The process for accreditation approval is thorough. It covers:

  • membership agreement,
  • centre self-assessment,
  • evidence review,
  • site visits
  • and external assessment by an independent quality assurance panel.

What accreditation means for your organisation

Achieving this accreditation shows that members demonstrate quality and specialism in every aspect of a specialist Rape Crisis Centre’s service provision, including Independent Sexual Violence Advocacy (ISVA) services, practical and emotional support and therapeutic services.

This also includes work with all sexual violence and abuse victims and survivors who are eligible to access the services of a Rape Crisis Centre, including women and girls, men and boys, trans and non-binary people, and children and young people.

It is a record of achievement for the Rape Crisis Centre, and a renewed commitment to deliver high-quality specialist support to the victim/survivors in their communities.

RCNSS Accredited Members

Together, these members are helping to make sure survivors can access high-quality support wherever they live:

I feel supported by RCEW and pleased that as a group we have all succeeded in this endeavour. I am proud to be accredited and think this will be so important for the turbulent funding times ahead.

A member Rape Crisis Centre
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Find your nearest Rape Crisis centre

Our member Rape Crisis centres provide free, local support and services for victims and survivors of rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse and all other forms of sexual violence.

Want to talk?

Contact our 24/7 Support Line for free emotional support.

Find out more