Support centre offers a ‘safe space’ for victims of abuse

A support centre for victims of abuse in all its forms has opened in the centre of Lochgilphead.

The Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis Centre has opened in the town’s Argyll Street, offering what is being called ‘a lifeline’, delivered by a group of highly trained people.

Their sole aim is to offer free and confidential support to all survivors of sexual violence, whether as adults or in childhood, as well as offering support to their families.

Fiona Howard, a councillor in the Helensburgh Central ward, told the Advertiser on behalf of Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis (ABRC): ‘The team at Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis have been providing support in Argyll and Bute since 2006, when Women’s Aid identified a need for further support in the region, and in the beginning there was only one worker, based in Cowal and Bute.

‘Now, more than 20 employees, more than half of whom are support workers, work across centres in Dunoon, Rothesay, Helensburgh, Oban, and now there is a new one in Lochgilphead.’

Elizabeth Thomson of ABRC said: ‘We are delighted that we have been able to open our newest centre in Lochgilphead to cover the MAKI area of Argyll and Bute.

‘Having a local centre means survivors can access face-toface support, one of the most effective ways of allowing them to move forward with their lives.

‘All our centres are as accessible as possible and we have worked hard to provide a confidential, welcoming and relaxed space where survivors feel safe to talk at their own pace, and begin to process the trauma or traumas they have experienced, and build healthy coping, confidence and resilience.’

Jan Brown, Mid Argyll councillor, said: ‘I am delighted to see Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis expanding their service and especially pleased to see the new centre opening in Lochgilphead.

‘This new facility will be a blessing for their clients and a safe space for them to begin the healing process.’

Dougie Philand, fellow Mid Argyll councillor, said: ‘This is a vital service for those who have suffered from abuse and I am delighted to see there is now a service located in Lochgilphead.

‘It is vital to make contact with the service to enable those who have suffered to begin the healing process in a safe and secure environment.’

ABRC provides support for around 250 survivors of abuse, every year, providing more than 2,000 one-to-one support sessions during the pat year.

The team members’ free and confidential support is available to all survivors over the age of 12 years, regardless of ethnicity or gender identity.

The ABRC team can be accessed by telephone, face-to-face and email and the emotional support they provide is backed up with practical support and advice or referrals to health care.

They are also there to help with police or legal procedures, hospital and doctor appointments and with attending court.

They will support people who have suffered sexual violence whether they decide to report it to the police or not.

Elsewhere, creative therapies sessions where creative arts are used as a way of engaging with the service are run in partnership with other specialist support agencies.

The team also runs several workshops in Argyll and Bute secondary schools with topics like What is Sexual Violence?, Sexualisation and pornography, Consent, Gender, Social Media: How can we Help Prevent Sexual Violence? and Impacts and Support.

The Patch Project is run in primary schools with the aim of preventing future abuse by teaching about healthy relationships.

Topics include: Gender Stereotypes, Being Safe Online, Safe Adults – Who to Tell, Safe and Unsafe Touch, Feelings and Emotions and Secrets.

All school talks and workshops are delivered by specially trained ABRC staff.

‘Having a local centre means survivors can access face-to-face support...’

 If you would like to contact ABRC, or perhaps refer a friend or family member, you can call the helpline, open Monday - Friday, 10m - 4pm, on 0800 121 4685, email support@ab-rc.org.uk - or fill in the contact form on their website at www.ab-rc.org.uk/ contact.