Support before report at Juniper Lodge – the safe place victims of sexual assault can get the help they need

“People coming here can feel safe and supported, with no pressure to do anything they aren’t comfortable with.”

“People coming here can feel safe and supported, with no pressure to do anything they aren’t comfortable with.”

These are the words of the SARC – sexual assault referral centre - manager, Millie Gant. The centre, based just outside the city centre, was set up in 2016 and offers a safe space for adult victims of sexual assault or abuse to come for help.

There are specialist services available there – from giving an initial account to a crisis worker, to finding out about what support options you have, to understanding around a forensic medical examination and aftercare medicine, to reporting the offence to the police.

But even with all this available, Juniper Lodge – as the SARC is known – it doesn’t feel like a hospital or a police station.

“We wanted it to feel reassuring; safe. People accessing us have been through something very traumatic either very recently or historically, and have made a big decision to come to us, through, whichever channel they’ve come,” Millie said.

She added: “We want to make sure people get the support they need before deciding whether to report it and supporting that process, if that’s chosen.”

The centre is co-commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire and NHS England, and some referrals to the centre come through NHS channels.

Millie said: “I think many people assume that the only way to get help if you’ve been sexually assaulted or abused is by reporting it to the police, but that’s far from the case.

“We have referrals through GP practices – people feel safe talking to their GP and may disclose what’s happened to them there, voicing concerns about their health as a result – and we have referrals through 111, and local A&E departments too.”

Walking into Juniper Lodge, with its purposeful design, feels calming, with sofas, cushions and a soft floral scent. The soft green paint on the walls immediately makes you feel like you’ve walked into a neutral, safe space.

“The whole centre is victim-led, putting their needs and choices at the heart of everything we do. Supporting a person through our forensic medical processes is the role of a forensic nurse and crisis worker, working together to ensure that the decisions about what happens are down the person we are caring for,” Millie said.

The centre has medical suites, where a person is able to choose what forensic evidence is gathered from them, as well as being offered a head-to-toe check, documentation of any injuries – if there are any – and aftercare medicines and support.

But even with this gathered, there’s no pressure to ever make a report to the police; it’s such a personal decision.

Mille said: “Some people want to come to us to complete a medical examination and obtain emergency medicine while they access support to help them decide what to do; this way, a person is in control of their care and they can decide to report it to police or not, with no pressure to do so.

“Once that report has been made, it’s out there and it’s a big decision. Some people feel it’s enough to have had their account listened to and taken seriously, and don’t progress it with the police. Others decide to later. It really is such a personal choice and there is never any expectation to report formally or not.”

The team, at the moment, is all women; from the nursing staff, the clinical lead and the ISVAs – the independent sexual violence advisors. This is reflective of the majority of the victims that come through the SARC’s doors.

Millie said: “We see a much higher level of women at our centre, so it feels empowering to have a strong team of women, supporting other women when they need it most, giving them help and guidance following something awful happening to them.

“But, of course, men are victims of sexual assault and abuse too. We recognise that men may find it harder to access us, but please know the same level of care, support and advice is available to any victim of a sexual assault, no matter when the abuse took place.

“If you have been sexually assaulted or abused, turn to us; we are here to help.”

For further details about Juniper Lodge visit the website at www.juniperlodge.org.uk

Details for partner organisations are in the table below: