Volunteers Help the Healing for Sexual Assault Survivors

17th of August, 2015

The Sexual Assault Support Service Canterbury (SASSC) has now been part of Aviva for a year and we have recently received funding to continue providing this vital service to Canterbury women, men and young people for another 12 months.

Originating from the Safecare service originally run by the Monarch Centre (now closed), SASSC provides 24/7 rape/sexual assault support and advocacy services; access to counselling; support for parents/whanau of children who have been sexually abused; and community education and resources.

Jen Sykes is Aviva’s SASSC Co-ordinator and oversees the support team, all of whom are volunteers. Not only does Jen roster, support and train the volunteers, she also volunteers herself because she deeply values the personal interaction with clients and the opportunity to help people through such a time of crisis. 

Some of this essential help was provided by SASSC volunteer Sarah* to Christie*, a young woman who had been in Christchurch only a short time. Her parents had arranged for her to stay in a homestay but, on the second night there, a man who lived at the house sexually assaulted her. Christie went to the Cambridge Clinic where she was informed of SASSC. Sarah arrived to sit with her throughout her medical examination, then arranged for funds from the Dove Trust provided to Aviva specifically for client emergencies to top up her phone to call home, and to buy food. Having access to those emergency funds meant that Christie got the immediate additional help she needed as, because it was a public holiday, she was unable to access the Victim Support Grant which otherwise would have supported her. Sarah then organised Christie’s accommodation in a local refuge and also liaised with her family to ensure her well-being because, with no family or friends in Christchurch, SASSC was Christie’s only support.

Although SASSC clients are predominantly female, the service supports men too, such as Justin*, a young man who was the victim of a drug-assisted attack. Justin went to the Cambridge Clinic where he too received support from a SASSC volunteer, and was later further supported to give his statement at the Police Station. Justin said he could not have gone to the Police Station without the support of SASSC.

SASSC volunteers don’t just support people during examinations, at the Police station or in court; they provide initial phone support (people will later be referred to an appropriate counsellor); help them process what has happened to them; and help to contact family/friends. And the service doesn’t only provide support immediately after a sexual attack - it provides support to deal with historic attacks too, and there are a growing number of such referrals coming via Police.

SASSC is currently looking to recruit more volunteers; could you be one of those special people who provide such vital support to others? Full training is provided following which volunteers are given a Buddy (an experienced volunteer) to accompany them on their first few call outs, or more if needed. These call-outs can be any time of day or night, although there tends to be more call-outs at the end of the week. If you’re interested in finding out more about being a SASSC volunteer, please email jen@avivafamilies.org.nz