Many incidents of rape occur and are often undisclosed and unreported which makes it difficult to capture the relaity of this crime.

Over the years all agencies, including the police, have improved the way they deal with incidents of reported rape to encourage women to ask for help and support.

If you wish to report and incident of rape to the Police: Contact 999 or ring your local police station via the main contact number which is 0845 113 5000.

Impact of rape

In all cases rape has a detrimental effect on a woman. She may:

• Find it difficult to form new relationships
• Find it difficult to trust men
• Be afraid to go out at certain times of the day
• Feel isolated and lonely - that noone will understand what has happened
• Feel that people will not believe her
• Be afraid to tell anyone about it and self blame
• Be embarrassed about what has happened.

Why seek help?

There are many agencies out there that can help and support you deal with what has happened, discuss the effect this has on your life and can be the first building block to resuming your life.

"An act of rape can take minutes, but the impact can be for life"

•  Who will bear the lifetime scars emotional or physical - the Victim
•  Who will have to rebuild her life, gain in self confidence and deal with relationships after being raped - the Victim.

There is hope. Most survivors of rape have successfully rebuilt their lives and achieved this by getting help and support to deal with what has happened.

Call now!

Womens Rape Support Service
Confidential services provided by Sandwell Women's Aid.

• Emotional support
• One-to-one counselling
• Telephone helpline
• Referral to other relevant agencies
• Helpline 0845 055 9597

Domestic Violence and Rape

It is also recognised that within a relationship women can be raped and is often an experience for women experiencing domestic violence.  Specialist agencies to support women are available. Sandwell Women's Aid provides advice, guidance, support and where necessary emergency accommodation to any woman living within a domestic violence relationship.

24 hour helpline: 0121 552 6448

Samaritans: 0845 7909090

Helpline: 0845 055 9597

Women's Rape Support Service is supported by SMBC and Safer Sandwell Partnership and Sandwell Women's Aid.