History

Our roots are in the feminist rape crisis movement that emerged in 2008 in response to violence against women and girls.

A purple lotus flower with Bristol Rape Crisis written underneath

Our roots are as a feminist, women-led organisation that started in 2008 as Bristol Rape Crisis.

We started with 2 women, one phone, and a handful of amazing volunteers.  From there on we worked tirelessly to continue to grow and develop to support as many people affected by sexual violence as possible.

A pink lotus with the words Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support underneath it

We grew to cover the whole of Avon and Somerset

In 2013 we received funding to offer support to people across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, or South Gloucestershire. The staff team grew and we started providing much needed counselling services.

Going from strength to strength

We now have nearly 50 members of staff and 30 volunteers. We run new, innovative support services, and national projects, alongside our original helpline that has provided a lifeline for victim-survivors since 2008. We became proudly trans-inclusive and continue to work on our equality, diversity, and inclusion to ensure that no one is left behind.

The latest from our news and blogs

Why choose SARSAS? 7 key benefits of our Sexual Harassment training

Creating safer, more inclusive workplaces has never been more important. At SARSAS, we specialise in delivering sexual harassment training that’s professional yet personal, practical yet impactful.

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A Year of Trans, Non-Binary & Intersex (TNBI) Best Practice: with Loving Me

On November 19th, in recognition of Trans Day of Remembrance on the following day, we proudly hosted our fourth online Trans, Non-Binary, and Intersex Best Practice (TNBI) event.

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Struggling with showering? You’re not alone

Many people have experienced this after sexual violence. It can feel overwhelming for a range of reasons, and that’s okay. Here’s a space to explore what might be making washing feel difficult, along with some gentle suggestions that may make it a little easier.