Rape and sexual assaults can have a devastating impact on the victim and those around them – having an affect on every part of their everyday life.
However, there is support out there to help transform them from a victim to a survivor and a Burton charity will help them take that vital step. To do this, the organisation needs volunteers to join the team and be there for those that need it when they are at their most vulnerable.
News reporter Jenny Moody found out more about what it takes to be a volunteer ...
Sarac has been helping people in Burton for the last 23 years as it works with those living with the impact of rape and sexual assault to listen and help them find a way to move forward.
However, volunteers are a vital part of helping people take the first steps forward while talking through what has happened and giving them ways to deal with it and come out the other end a different person.
The charity is currently looking for more volunteers to join the team and be there for people after they have taken the first vital step to make that phone call and talk about what's happened.
Volunteering at Sarac it is not just about helping people, they also learn valuable skills and experience which has helped many move on to further careers.
The training itself is a level 3 qualification in specialist support and is the equivalent of an A-Level, but it takes a special kind of person with the ability to listen to become a volunteer.
Tracey Hardie, the chief executive of Sarac, says they are looking for compassionate people who want to do something to help others.
Volunteers will be heavily vetted and go through a rigorous training process which lasts for around three months to make sure they have all the skills they need before being able to take those calls and start helping people.
At the start of the recruitment process Sarac usually has around 15 people come forward but due to the nature of the charity it can go down to 10 or 11 as people decide that it is not for them.
Ms Hardie said: “During the training it is normal for volunteers to go through a life shock which is completely to be expected and we will support them through that. Most people come to terms with that and can see it as a positive as they realise they are better equipped to protect their children.
“We are always there to support them and get them a balance as most people are like us and are decent people. There are more of them.
“Ongoing after the training, we have super-experienced counsellors and they have a meeting every month for the volunteers where they can discuss any issues they are dealing with and will help them support the client and show them the best way to support themselves. We are always there to help the staff.”
Volunteers will receive around 35 hours training as part of the programme, covering everything they will come across at Sarac, including helping people who are suicidal, understanding childhood abuse and blowing away the myths.
At the end of the training all volunteers will be presented with a mock scenario to make sure they have the skills to deal with any situation before they can start supporting people.
They will then be required to help out for at least two hours a week for 12 months; a lot has been invested in training but many stay a lot longer and will progress into a new career with what they have learned.
Once volunteers are fully trained, they will continue to receive support with regular meetings and support groups to talk through what they have heard.
Ms Hardie said: “We have been going for 23 years and for all those years we have been encouraging people to tell us what is going on.
"There is no agenda and we are not encouraging people to report it. We are literally just here for them. We have a lot of expertise and it is about getting to the truth and facts out there as well as getting rid of those myths.
"Many believe that they are somehow responsible and one of the main parts is to help them understand they had no power.
"They are the victim and they have survived. Helping them to see that is difficult as human beings have this self-doubt and we are always telling ourselves it is our fault. Someone can tell them it is not their fault but they have already internalised it.
“People can rationally see that it is not their fault but the human psyche doesn’t work like that. That is what it is to be a victim but that is a temporary thing as we work towards being a survivor. A true survivor is someone who doesn’t self-blame, they have survived this terrible thing against the odds.
“For people who have been raped; they are not reporting it or telling their story for financial gain. It is a huge weight to carry around. Once it is out there publicly it can cause upset for the family, future relationships and the stigma for reporting a crime like this is not something that is taken lightly so we need to dispel the myths surrounding it.”
Sarac is also going through a rebranding with a brightly coloured picture of a bird as its logo, replacing the image of the sad looking woman and man, which will be coming in soon. In other good news, the charity has also been chosen by Asda as one of its causes and shoppers are invited to put their tokens in the box to get more funding for the cause.
Ms Hardie has also thanked Dains Accountants and Business Advisors, the Consolidated Charity of Burton and Burton Breweries for their support, which continues to help Sarac to grow.
She said: “We have businesses coming forward for the first time asking if there is anything they can do to support us. We have big businesses wanting to partner up which is brilliant.”
Anyone who feels they would benefit from the help of Sarac can call the helpline on 01283 517185. Anyone who would like to express an interest in becoming a volunteer, with training starting in September, can find out more by emailing here
