News / Sexual violence
‘It took me 11 years to tell anyone – I was afraid what people would think of me’
Survivors of sexual violence in Bristol are facing multiple barriers in accessing the support they need.
A pioneering study revealed a number of issues preventing people from getting help in the region – these range from negative experiences of trying to use services, lack of information, fear of blame, judgement or concern they won’t be believed.
“I have felt left behind by the system, and I’m frightened for women in less privileged positions than my own,” said one survivor.
is needed now More than ever
Another said: “It took me 11 years to tell anyone. I was afraid what people would think of me.”
Nationally, 3.1 per cent of women and 0.8 per cent of men are estimated to have experienced sexual violence in the past 12 months, according to statistics in the Crime Survey for England and Wales, 2017.
Yet, the disclosure rate remains extremely low, with the Rape Crisis England and Wales stating that only 15 per cent of incidents are reported.
Sexual offences recorded by Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner was two per 1000 population in 2016/2017, according of data from the Office for National Statistics.
In order to examine this disparity, the first needs assessment of its kind in Avon and Somerset and was carried out by Voscur, as part of the Innovations Project with the Bristol Sexual Violence Support Consortium.
The research aims to address the lack of evidence around the specific and varying needs of adult survivors of sexual violence in the region.
Jennifer McMahon, consortium innovations manager for the Bristol Sexual Violence Support Consortium, said: “The aim of the Innovations project is to develop collaborative working and efficiency in sexual violence services.
“This work could not take place without a firm understanding of the realities of local survivors’ experiences and we will take this learning forward to inform future service design and provision.”
The majority of survivors identified issues with the length of waiting times for services, with one saying: “Trouble is, when you find the courage to speak to someone, you want to do it there and then, not in six weeks’ time.”
Survivors from black or minority ethnic (BME), lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual (LGBT+) or disability groups face even greater barriers to accessing support they need, and men reported that it is still assumed that males can’t be victims.
The report by Voscur sets out a number of recommendations to improve accessibility to services and challenges existing myths and stigmas surrounding sexual violence.
Main photo by marimbajlamesa.
Read more: Help needed for victims of child sexual abuse in Bristol
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