The overall aim of this post is to provide support and advocacy to survivors who are engaged, or considering engaging, with the criminal justice system following an experience of sexual violence.

The National Advocacy Project is funded by the Scottish Government and is a partnership between RCS and the 17 local Rape Crisis Centres across Scotland. The project aims to provide support and advocacy to survivors who have engaged or are considering engaging with the criminal justice system following a sexual crime. The National Advocacy workers meet regularly for ongoing training and peer support and are supported by the National Advocacy Coordinator at Rape Crisis Scotland. You can read more about the National Advocacy project here rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/national-advocacy-project

The overall aim of this post is to work alongside the Advocacy Lead to provide support to survivors who are engaged, or considering engaging, with the criminal justice system following an experience of sexual violence. There will be some advocacy duties, such as court support, required when directed.

There is increasing awareness of issues of sexual violence affecting young people (such as sexual bullying, pressures, and expectations around “sexting”, and violence within teenage relationships) and of the impact of increasing sexualisation in the media. This post is part of a national programme involving prevention workers based at thirteen rape crisis centres, coordinated by Rape Crisis Scotland, using a shared resource pack and evaluation framework. Regular training opportunities and a practitioners’ forum are provided as part of the programme. More information and the report from an external evaluation can be found at rapecrisisscotland.org.uk under ‘Campaigns and Projects.’

The STAR Centre (previously the Rape Counselling and Resource Centre) was established over 30 years ago and works across Ayrshire, with premises based in Kilmarnock. The centre supports survivors of sexual violence and works with local partners to improve responses to sexual violence. The prevention worker post is an exciting addition to the team, enabling the centre to work in partnership with schools and youth agencies to create safe spaces for young people to discuss consent and healthy sexual relationships.

Purpose of post

The overall aim of this post is to develop local strategic approaches to sexual violence prevention, and to deliver interventions to young people around healthy sexual relationships using the Rape Crisis Scotland sexual violence prevention pack.

The STAR Centre (Ayrshire’s Rape Crisis Centre) offer free, confidential and trauma-informed support and information to anyone over the age of 12 years who has experienced sexual violence or knows someone who has, across Ayrshire. We support people of all genders, including all members of the trans community and non-binary people. We will listen, believe, and support anyone of any race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, religious and cultural background.

Principal Duties:

• To provide direct person-centered support to individuals affected by any form of rape/sexual abuse through effective listening skills and encouraging individuals to recognise their own potential.

• To provide direct person-centered support to the partners/parents of survivors of rape, sexual abuse and/or violence.

• The post will be based at our centre in Kilmarnock, with out-reach support Ayrshire-wide, and will also involve some home-working.

• To create and maintain a support plan in conjunction with survivors

• At all times, ensure the safety, security and dignity of survivors, respect their right to confidentiality and the parameters of this.

• To contribute to the development of Centre Volunteers as required.

• As we are a small centre the support worker will be required to support the general centre activities.

Background Information: National Advocacy Project

The National Advocacy Project is funded by the Scottish Government and is a partnership between RCS and the 17 local Rape Crisis Centres across Scotland. The project aims to provide support and advocacy to survivors who have engaged or are considering engaging with the criminal justice system following a sexual crime. The National Advocacy workers meet regularly for ongoing training and peer support and are supported by the National Advocacy Coordinator at Rape Crisis Scotland. You can read more about the National Advocacy project here rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/national-advocacy-project

Background Information: The STAR Centre

The STAR Centre (Ayrshire’s Rape Crisis Centre) offer free, confidential and trauma-informed support and information to anyone over the age of 12 years who has experienced sexual violence or knows someone who has, across Ayrshire. We support people of all genders, including all members of the trans community and non-binary people. We will listen, believe, and support anyone of any race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, religious and cultural background.

We offer support via face-to-face meetings; telephone support; email support; video calls and live chat drop-in sessions. Our dedicated services include: Support, this service is for anyone over 25 years who has experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their life. Support is also available for friends and family members; Support for Young People, A dedicated service for young people aged 12 to 25 years, who have experienced any form of sexual violence; Advocacy, A specialised service for anyone who has reported or is considering reporting an experience of sexual violence that happened recently or in the past; Prevention, Our Prevention workers deliver sexual violence prevention workshops to young people aged between 12 and 25 years, in schools and youth groups across Ayrshire.

This post is initially funded by the Scottish Government until end of March 2023, with continued funding being sought beyond then.

Purpose of the post:

The overall aim of this post is to provide support and advocacy to survivors who are engaged, or considering engaging, with the criminal justice system following an experience of sexual violence.

There is increasing awareness of issues of sexual violence affecting young people (such as sexual bullying, pressures, and expectations around “sexting”, and violence within teenage relationships) and of the impact of increasing sexualisation in the media. This post is part of a national programme involving prevention workers based at thirteen rape crisis centres, coordinated by Rape Crisis Scotland, using a shared resource pack and evaluation framework. Regular training opportunities and a practitioners’ forum are provided as part of the programme. More information and the report from an external evaluation can be found at rapecrisisscotland.org.uk under ‘Campaigns and Projects.’

The STAR Centre (Ayrshire’s Rape Crisis Centre) was established over 30 years ago and works across Ayrshire, with premises based in Kilmarnock. The centre supports survivors of sexual violence and works with local partners to improve responses to sexual violence. The prevention worker post is an exciting addition to the team, enabling the centre to work in partnership with schools and youth agencies to create safe spaces for young people to discuss consent and healthy sexual relationships.

The overall aim of this post is to develop local strategic approaches to sexual violence prevention, and to deliver interventions to young people around healthy sexual relationships using the Rape Crisis Scotland sexual violence prevention pack.