Who We Support And Our Services
** Closure of Edinburgh Adult Service, Advocacy, Learning Disabilities and Needs, and Student Survivors Project Waiting Lists **
We have had to take the very difficult decision to close the following waiting lists to new referrals:
- Edinburgh support service for adult survivors
- Advocacy
- Learning disabilities and needs
- Student survivors project
All our other services remain open to new referrals.
If you have experienced a rape or sexual assault within the last 14 days, please let us know as we are still open to support survivors of recent incidents.
If you are already on a waiting list for one of these services, you will remain on the list. If you have any concerns or questions about your referral, please contact us on support@ercc.scot.
We appreciate that waiting for our referral list to reopen can be difficult. Please see here for alternative sources of support. You can also contact the Rape Crisis Scotland national helpline on 08088 01 03 02 (open every day from 5pm until midnight) for support.
We respect the courage and strength it takes to speak out about your experience whether it has been a recent assault or it happened a long time ago. When you contact us we will get in touch with you and talk through what support we offer.
Our specialist trauma-informed support services are open to all survivors aged 12 and over, who have experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives, by abusers of any gender. This includes rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation.
We also provide support to family, friends and partners and agency workers who are in a supportive role.
We will listen, believe all survivors aged 12 and over, of any: race; ethnicity; age; sexual orientation; disability; gender identity (and non-binary people); class/social status; immigration status; religious and cultural background.
If English is not you your first language we can arrange for an interpreter. If you are Deaf or hard of hearing we can provide support via email. We can also arrange for a British Sign Language or signed English interpreter. There are two steps to our building and we have a portable ramp to facilitate wheelchair access available by request.
Covid-19 and face-to-face support
Read the latest information about our face-to-face support and Covid-19 here.
LGBTI+
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and non-binary (LGBTI+) people may experience negative attitudes in society and prejudice, and have concerns about public revelation of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. Our staff have been fully trained to be sensitive, informed and respectful in all our spaces through specialist awareness raising training.
Our service is open to anyone who self identifies as a woman, trans woman, trans man or non-binary person. We offer a person-centred service to all survivors who use our service. Read ERCC’s Trans Inclusion Statement here.
In 2020 we were awarded the LGBT Scotland Gold Charter Mark in recognition of our work to make ERCC a LGBTI+ inclusive organisation and reduce barriers to our service.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All our support services are free and we offer appointments on weekdays up to 7pm. What you tell us remains confidential within our support team. We will not tell anyone that you have contacted us, unless you want us to. However, there are some circumstances when we are required by law to share information (please see our safeguarding page for further information).
OUR SUPPORT SERVICES
>> Recent rape or sexual assault
>> STAR project for young survivors aged 12 – 18
>> SIA project – survivors from black and minority ethnic backgrounds