Business Details
36 Years
experience
Your Trusted Sexual Violence Support Partner in Darlington & County Durham
RSACC is a feminist, women-led charity established in 1990, dedicated to ending rape and sexual violence by supporting survivors across Darlington and County Durham. We provide free, confidential services including specialist counselling, Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) support, trauma-informed groups, and emotional support via telephone and email. As part of Rape Crisis England and Wales, we combine over three decades of expertise with an intersectional feminist approach to empower survivors and address gender inequality.Our person-centred model prioritises individual agency, while our commitment to anti-oppressive practice ensures inclusivity for all clients, staff, and volunteers. We deliver specialist training on sexual violence to professionals and advocate for systemic change through community engagement and policy work.
Services
Counselling
ISVA Support
Emotional Support Line
Trauma-Informed Groups
Recovery Toolkits
Bystander Training
Child Sexual Abuse Support
Domestic Violence Awareness
Sexual Violence Training
Details
- Year established: 1990
Highlights and features
- We have over 30 years' specialist experience supporting sexual violence survivors
- Our feminist, person-centred approach prioritises survivor empowerment
- We offer a comprehensive range of free, confidential services
- Our team includes BACP-accredited counsellors and specialist ISVAs
- We provide nationally recognised CPD-accredited training on sexual violence
Associations and certifications
- Rape Crisis England and Wales
- BACP
What people say
Happier stronger more confident
Engaging informative training sessions
Safe haven for recovery
Empowering support services
Life-changing emotional support
Services
Counselling
Our BACP-accredited counsellors provide specialist support for sexual violence survivors. Sessions help individuals process trauma, rebuild confidence, and develop coping strategies. The service is free, confidential, and available face-to-face or remotely.
ISVA Support
Independent Sexual Violence Advisors offer practical and emotional support through police reporting processes. Our trained specialists provide case management, court accompaniment, and liaison with statutory agencies while maintaining survivor confidentiality.
Emotional Support Line
Confidential telephone support available during office hours for anyone affected by sexual violence. Our trained staff provide immediate crisis support, information about services, and signposting to longer-term resources.
Trauma-Informed Groups
Facilitated group sessions create safe spaces for shared experiences and collective healing. These groups focus on rebuilding self-esteem, managing anxiety, and developing healthy relationships through structured therapeutic activities.
Bystander Training
Half-day CPD-accredited workshops teach professionals to recognise and safely intervene in potential abuse situations. Training covers legal responsibilities, trauma responses, and creating safer environments for disclosure.
People
Isabel Owens
Senior Manager
With seven years' experience in voluntary sector leadership, Isabel specialises in service development for vulnerable populations. She oversees strategic operations at RSACC, ensuring services meet survivors' evolving needs while maintaining feminist principles.
Jacqui Heward-Hill
Training Facilitator
Jacqui brings extensive mental health and education expertise to RSACC's training programmes. She develops CPD-accredited workshops on sexual violence awareness, combining frontline experience with positive psychology principles to create impactful learning experiences for professionals.
Victoria Matthewson
Funding Manager
With 16 years in non-profit fundraising, Victoria secures essential resources for RSACC's services. Her grant-writing expertise ensures financial sustainability, enabling the charity to maintain free support programmes for survivors across County Durham.
Alex Carruthers
Counselling Service Manager
A former volunteer counsellor, Alex now leads RSACC's therapy team. With seven years' experience in trauma support, she oversees delivery of specialist counselling services while maintaining direct client contact through complex case management.
Jamie Allinson
ISVA Team Manager
Jamie combines legal expertise with seven years' frontline ISVA experience. She manages the independent sexual violence advisor team, ensuring survivors receive expert guidance through legal processes while advocating for systemic improvements in victim support.
Questions
What support options are available for sexual violence survivors?
We offer free counselling, ISVA support, emotional helpline, trauma-informed groups, and recovery toolkits. All services are confidential and accessible to anyone affected by sexual violence at any time in their lives.
How can I access RSACC's services?
You can self-refer through our secure online form or contact us directly via phone or email. Organisations can also make professional referrals. All support is provided free of charge across Darlington and County Durham.
Do you provide support for male survivors?
Yes, we support all survivors regardless of gender. Our services specifically include dedicated support for men and boys who have experienced rape or sexual violence, ensuring appropriate, non-judgmental care.
What training courses do you offer for professionals?
We provide CPD-accredited half-day workshops on sexual violence awareness, bystander intervention, domestic abuse, and responding to disclosure. Training is delivered in-person, online, or through scheduled course dates.
How are donations used to support survivors?
Every donation directly funds survivor support services. £5 provides crisis support, £15 helps rebuild futures, £40 covers specialist counselling sessions, and £1,000 trains a volunteer to deliver frontline support.
What safeguarding measures are in place?
We maintain strict safeguarding policies for vulnerable adults and children, including staff training, incident reporting procedures, and regular policy reviews. Our practices align with national best practices and regulatory requirements.
