Survivor Voices

RAL depends upon the testimony of those who have accessed, received and been helped by the support we offer.

As a confidential charity, RAL has to balance this confidentiality with the need to provide statistical information to funding bodies.  Funding bodies require proof that a service is required, utilized and is benefiting those who use it.

This allows us to plead a good case for future funding.

RAL’s experience tells us that there is indeed huge demand for on-going person-centred support from survivors of rape and/or abuse, both recent and historic. 

Currently we are able to show how many calls we are taking on the Helplines and how many people access Face to Face Support or Counselling, we do not hold any personal information on clients or their experiences. 

We currently cannot prove that the kind of support we offer allows people to come to terms with their experiences, to feel believed and thus assist them to move forward in a more positive direction with their lives.  

This is why we welcome user feedback into our services.  It does not feel appropriate to ask service users immediately after a listening session, if they have any feedback to give so we are developing this online space to allow service users to give us feedback.  We believe that survivors have a huge and important role in telling us what works and what does not.  By taking the time to look at what may have helped in your own situation, you could potentially make changes to future services; and we will listen as our main ethos is to ensure appropriate support is available.

We would like service users to tell us their experiences of support services such as our own. 

Such things as: 

Did this support have positive impacts on your life? 

Do you think that support services can reduce the load of the NHS or GPs?

Are the available services appropriate for survivors?

Can we improve any aspect of the services we offer?

Or anything else you feel would help enhance the quality of service available to survivors. 

We really value your opinions and thank you for taking the time to assist us with this.

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The support you offer far exceeds the help the NHS can deliver, they do not have the time or understanding

I am a rape crisis advocate in the United States. I am happy and encouraged to see support in other countries. For the survivors.. be encouraged, your not alone. My hopes are that more males come forth seeking help. Together we can make a difference.

“You’ve been so supportive and someone supporting me empowers me.”

“I’m so glad that I’ve got you…thank you for taking the time to talk to me.”

“Thank you for talking to me. Can I see you again for face to face support?”

“No amount of gifts I would give would ever be enough to say thank you.”

“I don’t know who else to talk to about this…thanks for listening.”

“You’re all that I’ve got…you keep me going.”

“Thanks for calling…thanks for everything…being there.”

“I find it helps a great deal to be able to talk without being judged, to someone that totally understands your feelings. I felt like nobody had listened in the past and I was in a little world of my own. You have taught me to open up and look at myself in a totally different way and for me to see that I’m not to blame. Thank you.”

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