We can't wave a magic wand and make the past different, or make all the difficult stuff go away - but we can help you process and re-frame your experiences so that they are less dominant in your life.

At Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis, all of our workers are trained in helping to support survivors of all forms of sexual abuse and violence. This includes recent rape, childhood sexual abuse, stalking, historic abuse, intimate partner violence, sexual assault and commercial sexual exploitation (exchanging sex for money, shelter, food or transport).

We're here for you.

We provide both emotional and practical support, which can cover health, hospital and GP appointments, police and legal procedures and court attendances, just to name a few.

Everything you say is treated in confidence within the terms of our Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults policies.

We provide support by phone, email, video and letter throughout all of Argyll and Bute and the Islands. Face to face support is also available in Cowal & Bute, Mid Argyll & Kintyre, Oban & Lorne and Helensburgh & Lomond.

You can self-refer to us or you can ask someone to do it for you. They must have your permission and you need to be there when they make the call. Once that's done, you'll have an initial conversation with us, just to go over what we can offer and what your expectations are - nothing too difficult.

You'll be allocated a support worker who will get in touch with you whichever way makes you feel more comfortable - email, text, phone etc. During that contact, you'll have the option to make an appointment at a time that suits both of you. Appointments can take place face to face, by telephone or by video call.

We understand that what you're doing - starting to deal with your traumatic experiences - can be really difficult, so we'll take this whole process at your pace. We won't push you or try to make you say more than you feel able to. You are at the centre of everything we do.

During your support sessions, you and your support worker will discuss any thoughts, feeling, anxieties and concerns you may have about 'opening this can of worms' before we go any further. We'll cover things like confidentiality, boundaries and what to do if you can't make an appointment. Once you have that information, you'll have taken the first step of your recovery journey.

We do not offer support to anyone who has been convicted of a sexual offence and is therefore on the Sexual Offenders Register.