Support Services
Crisis Workers
Crisis workers offer free 24/7 telephone support, information and referral services to all survivors of sexual violence, their family and friends. Crisis workers can also support you through a forensic medical examination, whether or not you have made a firm commitment to make a formal complaint to the police at the initial stage. We can inform you about the reporting process and facilitate referrals to police if that is what you wish.
At The Bridge you will also have access to all necessary medications relating to the sexual assault, including emergency contraception as well as a referral for follow up sexual health screening.
Forensic Medical Services
A forensic medical, is a police process and is an appointment with a specially trained doctor who will ask you questions about your physical health as well as offer a genital examination if relevant to the sexual assault.
The main purpose of a forensic medical is to obtain material evidence to support the complaint made to the police.
Independent Sexual Violence Advisor
A dedicated Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) can provide follow up care and referrals to other services as well as practical support. If your complaint proceeds to a criminal trial, preparation prior to the trial and support at the trial may also be provided.
Counselling Services
Counselling services are offered at the Centre by its three counsellors. We provide counselling to clients who have been sexually abused/assaulted and live in the Avon and Somerset area.
Counsellors will not expect clients to discuss their sexual assault experience during sessions unless they choose to. Instead, our counsellors will work with clients to develop healthy ways of coping with distress, make sense of what happened to them and help them to understand the psychological symptoms they may be experiencing and work towards reducing these symptoms.
An assessment will be made with the client to ensure SARC counselling is the most appropriate service for them at that time.
Information and consultation services are also provided to other professionals in the community during business hours only.
Consultation Services
Information and consultation services are also provided to other professionals in the community by our daytime staff who are experienced in the area of sexual trauma recovery.
Referral process
Clients of either recent or historic sexual assaults can refer themselves at any time to The Bridge if they wish to report to Police, or if they wish to leave this open as an option for the future. Either way, we can make all necessary arrangements 24 hours a day. Alternatively, clients can contact the police directly to activate this same service.
If a client does not want police involvement, but requires urgent or non urgent medical attention due to being recently sexually assaulted, we can refer to other appropriate medical and sexual health services and arrange for the client to receive follow up support.
For counselling services, clients ideally refer themselves by contacting the Centre by telephone during office hours. However, clients may also be referred for all services at The Bridge by other professionals by simply phoning the Centre.
Disability access
We have full wheelchair access.
Interpreting Services
We have access to interpreting services if required.
