ORGANISATION BACKGROUND INFORMATION
About Us : Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis provides a variety of specialist support and
advocacy services to women, men and young people (aged 13+) who have experienced any
form of sexual abuse. We also provide support to non-offending partners, parents and family
members of survivors. We offer training to front line workers on the effects of sexual violence
and how to deal appropriately with disclosure. We developed and facilitate a bespoke proactive programme of age-appropriate prevention workshops in secondary schools and youth
groups (TESSA : To Explore Sexual exploitation and Sexual Abuse). Our organisation is a
registered charity and company limited by guarantee.
We cover the local authority area of Argyll and Bute and were founded in November 2005.
Our centre is based in Dunoon, Argyll, but we are gradually developing outreach support
services to the more geographically challenging remote areas of Argyll and the Islands
through planned programmes of volunteer recruitment and specialist training.
Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis Centre was founded as part of a programme of expansion of
services across Scotland for both female and male survivors of rape, sexual assault and
childhood sexual abuse. Although we are an autonomous organisation, we are part of a
Scottish network of Rape Crisis Centres working together within a set of National Service
Standards which guarantee consistency of service for survivors across the country.
In addition to the Scottish Network, we are involved in a range of strategic partnerships and
we work closely with a range of statutory and voluntary sector organisations across the local
authority area. We have always involved volunteers in our work delivering direct support to
survivors and we have an intensive training programme plus a process of continuing
professional development for our support workers. The Rape Crisis Centre is the only
organisation of its kind in Argyll and Bute and there are no other services in the area which
offer support to male sexual violence survivors.
Our support takes the form of 2 dedicated telephone helplines which are open seven days a
week, one to one support with specially trained support workers, counselling and facilitated
group support therapies. We may also be able to offer home support visits to survivors who
are disabled or unable to leave their homes to access services.
A rolling programme of locally based volunteer recruitment and training enables us to embed
ourselves in local service provision and assists the organisation in maintaining the
sustainability of services. Because we cover the whole of the Argyll and Bute local authority
area, we have a working knowledge of the needs of our client group, and the challenges of
working in a remote rural area. Additionally, now that we have an active prevention
programme in every Secondary School Argyll and Bute wide, it is vital to have locally based
workers and volunteers who can provide early intervention to support services for young
people disclosing sexual abuse during, or in the aftermath of workshops.
Funding Support : Our main funders are The Scottish Government; Argyll and Bute
Council; Comic Relief; Robertson Trust; The Henry Smith Charity; The Lankelly Chase
Foundation; RS Macdonald Trust; The Scottish Community Foundation and The Voluntary
Action Fund. In addition, we access local Community Health Partnership, Health and
Wellbeing and Argyll and Bute Alcohol/Drug Partnership funding.
Each of our funders demands regular monitoring and evaluation reports, together with a
breakdown of budget spending. Accurate and transparent financial records and accounting
processes are vital.
Accessing and securing sustainable funding is a major and continuous task for the
organisation, not only to permit continued development, but to maintain and preserve the
services we currently provide.
Human Resources : We currently employ 3 full time paid workers and 4 part-time paid
workers. 8 valued volunteer support workers provide additional outreach support and
helpline cover.
The Centre Manager has responsibility for the day to day running and development of the
Centre.
6 Directors whose backgrounds cover Business Management, Local Authority Social Work
(Child Protection), MOD Naval and Families Social Work, NHS Mental Health Services,
Scottish Health Council and Community Support for young people with
Homeless/drug/alcohol issues hold the responsibility for the governance of the organisation.