Baroness Stern will be officially opening a new Suffolk Rape Crisis service in Ipswich next Monday, 29th November.
Here’s the press release:
“A new helpline is about to open for Suffolk women and girls who have experienced recent or historic sexual violence.
The Suffolk Rape Crisis (SRC) helpline will open on Nov 30. Lines will be open every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7.00-9.00pm. The number is 0800 0850520.
It is envisaged that there will be a high number of calls, so women are urged to try again if they cannot get through the first time they call.
Ipswich has not had a rape crisis centre since 2006.
The new Suffolk Rape Crisis Centre will be officially opened in Ipswich by Baroness Stern on November 29.
“A telephone helpline service for the women and girls of Suffolk who have experienced sexual violence is long overdue,” said development worker Kate Drury.
The highly trained volunteers who will answer the calls can provide emergency support for women and girls who have been recently raped or sexually assaulted, or for women who have suffered childhood sex abuse.
The centre also aims to establish face-to-face counselling services next year.
It is envisaged that the helpline will be open more often as more volunteers are trained. Anyone interested in being a volunteer should email kate@suffolkrapecrisis.co.uk. There is an interview process and training to become a helpline volunteer.”
In the interest of openness and transparency and all that – I’m a trustee of the new Suffolk Rape Crisis, and before that I was on its steering group: I’m dead proud to have been involved in this from the start. Well done to all the trustees, and huge thanks to all of those who have given up their time, and who continue to give up their time, to help make this happen.
Oh and by the way, SRC is a registered charity, charity no 1137355. All donations gratefully received 😉
Too Much To Say For Myself 
Well done, congratulations.
The only concern is that the hours are very limited, are there plans to extend them?
Hi Fab Libber.
Yes, the plan is that we’ll be getting another group of volunteers trained in the new year, and then we’ll have the capacity to extend the helpline hours.
Obviously we’re still at the very early stages of getting set up, but as time goes on and funding becomes more established we’ll be able to offer other services as well, such as the face to face counselling mentioned in the press release.
Yeah congrats on all the work, it’s a shame it’s needed at all of course.
Congrats, well done 🙂