Version control
| Version number | Date | Author | Comments |
| 001 | 15/01/2025 | Louise Andrews | |
Overview
| Name of product under development or review | Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) |
| Description of the product | RASASC supports survivors of all genders over the age of 13 from across Surrey, who have been raped, sexually abused, or have had an unwanted sexual experience. They support survivors regardless of whether they have reported their case to the Police or not. RASASCs vision and mission is to provide access to confidential, specialist support services to people in Surrey affected by sexual harm. They share their specialist knowledge, skills, learning and expertise with partners and the wider community through a programme of education and awareness raising. Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA’s) – ISVA’s play an important role in providing specialist tailored support to victims and survivors of sexual violence. An ISVA is an adviser who works with people who have experienced rape and sexual assault, irrespective of whether they have reported to the police. RASASC’s team of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) bring lots of experience to RASASC, including previous roles in domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation, counselling, the police, a paramedic and the crown court. Their team of ISVAs cover a range of client needs including young people from age 13, clients with mental health needs, LGBTQ+, physical and mental disabilities, male survivors, older people, and survivors from hard to reach and marginalised communities. Counselling – RASASC offers a counselling service which is led by a member of the team with 20 years’ experience in trauma counselling within a variety of organisations. Currently, the majority of RASASC’s counselling is held in the evening, and is provided weekly, on a one-to-one basis. Face-to-face counselling sessions are held at RASASC’s Guildford office, or they offer remote sessions via video call. Helpline and live chat – RASASC’s confidential helpline and live chat services are overseen by their Helpline Coordinator. |
| EIA start date | 17/07/2024 |
| EIA author and role | Louise Andrews Surrey OPCC |
| EIA owner and role | Lucy Thomas – Policy & Commissioning Lead for Victim Services |
| Date of last review | N/A – published on 15th January 2025 |
| Date of next review | 15th January 2026 |
Key product development dates
To evidence PSED compliance, equality and inclusion must be considered throughout the life cycle of a product. You can do this by integrating EIA reviews into key product development stages. List your product’s key stages and the dates you will review your EIA here.
| Key stage | Date |
| Victims Fund 24/25 – funding from MOJ | April 2025 |
| Home Office funding 24/25 – Preventing VAWG and Supporting Children project. | April 2025 |
Research and evidence
To undertake effective equality assessment that meets PSED compliance standards, you must work from an evidence base. Use this section to list the research you will use to understand the product’s potential or actual equality impacts (for example, surveys, customer feedback, protected characteristic data, academic research).
- RASASCs – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
- RASASC’s Safeguarding Policy
- RASASC counselling overview 2023/2024
- RASASCs monitoring report 2023-2024 and End of project review
- The latest Surrey census information: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021/report?compare=E10000030
- RASASCs – MOJ reports includes details around those who access this service and their protected characteristics 2023/2024
- RASASC’s Home Office reports – includes details around protected characteristics.
- Surrey Police Sexual offences data
- Crime Survey for England and Wales 2024/2025 https://www.crimesurvey.co.uk/en/index.html
- CPS Website: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/rape-and-serious-sexual-offences-rasso-2025
- Statistics about births and conceptions: parental characteristics, home births and birthweight | Surrey-I (surreyi.gov.uk)
- Rape Crisis –England and Wales website – https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/statistics-sexual-violence/
- World Health Organization Website – https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women
- SafeLives Website – https://safelives.org.uk/research-policy/health/idvas-in-maternity-units/
- Neighbourhood Watch website- https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/crime-prevention/crime-types/domestic-abuse/forced-marriage
- Home Office, Violence against women and girls national statement of expectations (2022)- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/violence-against-women-and-girls-national-statement-of-expectations-and-commissioning-toolkit/violence-against-women-and-girls-national-statement-of-expectations-accessible
- Survivors UK website – https://www.survivorsuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/LGBT-People-and-Sexual-Violence_Galop-and-LSG.pdf
- Ministry of Justice, Law to recognise children born as a result of rape as victims for the first time, 2023 – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/law-to-recognise-children-born-as-a-result-of-rape-as-victims-for-the-first-time
Stakeholder consultation will give you a better understanding of your product’s impacts and is crucial to satisfying the PSED requirements. Use this section to record the engagement you have undertaken, summarise the feedback received and note subsequent actions. This section can also be used to record nil returns.
| Name of group or organisation | Date of contact | Date reply received | Feedback | Action taken or reason why no action was taken |
| Surrey Police –Sexual Offences Investigation Team | 22/07/2024 | 13/08/2024 | SOIT and RASASC have a great working relationship. The ISVAS and SOLO’s all know one another. If there are ever any issues or misunderstandings the Sexual Offence Liaison Officer’s Supervisor has a close working relationship with the ISVA team leader. They hold meetings every 6 weeks to update each other around department changes and challenges and they also discuss any points of learning or feedback that need to be given to the team. Having this relationship helps SOIT as they work closely together to support victims. This can benefit the team as they know the victims who have ISVA’s that support them have another avenue of being safeguarded. This can help reduce the pressure off the team. | No further action. The services are working well together. |
| Surrey Victim and Witness Care Unit (VWCU) | 22/07/2024 | 09/08/24 | VWCU have a good relationship with this organisation, over recent years the communication has been good, and more recently been able to meet and build relationships with the team as VWCU have had new members to introduce. Both services were able to discuss how we can work together, and the difference in their service provision. Joint working in the past has been successful with the caseworkers on specific cases, tapping into their specialist knowledge and expertise, making referrals and more recently discussed RASASC supporting VWCU with some training for their caseworkers. All the team are very professional, approachable and helpful. Feedback from caseworkers included how RASASC’s referral process was very easy to explain and often when talking to victims supported by RASASC they had expressed how pleased they were and how quickly RASASC had reached out and been in contact. | No further action taken due to positive feedback. Services are working well together. |
General considerations
Use this section to note any general diversity, equality and inclusion activities or considerations that are relevant to the product. Please only document general considerations here. Protected characteristic analysis can be completed in the section below.
Rape and Serious Sexual Offence (RASSO) victims are all too often targeted by offenders because of one or more protected characteristics or other form of vulnerability. These factors may provide ease of access or opportunity for the offender, who may also hope that a vulnerable victim will be less likely to report the crime, and less likely to be believed if they do (CPS website)It is important to consider that ‘Sexual offences recorded by the police do not provide a reliable measure of trends. Improvements in police recording practices and increased reporting by victims have contributed to increases in recent years’. (Office For National Statistics, 2022). There is no typical person that is raped; people of all ages, races, sexualities, religion, background and appearance can be raped (https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/rape-and-sexual-offences-annex-tackling-rape-myths-and-stereotypes). When completing this EIA it’s important to acknowledge the under reporting of this crime type, ‘Most survivors of rape don’t report it to the police. 5 in 6 women who are raped don’t report – and the same is true for 4 in 5 men. (Rape Crisis England and Wales). 798,000 women are raped or sexually assaulted every year (1 in 30 women). (Rape Crisis England and Wales website).
Impact assessment and actions
Apply learning from research, consultation and project knowledge to consider equality considerations relevant to your project. This should include any potential or actual impacts (positive or negative), as well as how the project will uphold the three PSED aims for each of the protected characteristics.
- Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimization.
- Advance equal opportunity.
- Foster good relations between people of different characteristics.
If you have identified a negative impact, note what mitigating action will be taken to reduce or eliminate that impact. If no mitigating action can be taken, please explain why. The issues or impacts identified may change, or new factors may emerge, as your project develops. Use the EIA to document these and how your project has evolved to accommodate equality considerations.
Don’t forget to consider intersectionality. This refers to when characteristics overlap to shape experiences of inequality and discrimination. For further information, please refer to the ‘Addressing Intersectionality within Policing’ report.
Duplicate the boxes below if required. If you need further information about a protected characteristic, open the webpage linked to each subtitle.
All characteristics
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| RASASC is fully committed to safeguarding the rights of everyone that engages with their services. They recognise that all service users regardless of age, disability, gender, race, faith, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm. RASASC’s equality, diversity and inclusion policy aims to provide services that meet the needs of its constituency and ensure all projects RASASC are involved in promote equality. RASASC have implemented an Equality Diversity and Inclusion RASASC working group and have defined their vision as follows: To fully commit, over the long term, to becominginclusive and representative of survivors of sexual harm across Surrey as well as developing and maintaining an inclusive working and organisational culture.To be an informed, educated and self-aware organisation through ongoing training, setting expectations of our staff and volunteers to commit to furthering EDI within RASASC, and to use the latest available research to inform their organisational and cultural practicesTo work collaboratively and pragmatically with other organisations and services in identifying appropriate pathways and support for clients based on their individual needs.To take advantage of their existing ‘platform’ as a training organisation to then share and disseminate learning and knowledge across our partnership agencies. Due to demand, RASASC are currently limited to being able to accept 10 new adult counselling referrals each month. Once they have reached this limit, they will close to new referrals until the 1st day of the following month. |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| Due to the demands on the counselling service and waiting list RASASC now offers peer support group work which focusing on coping strategies to their clients so that survivors can still get support. They have received very positive feedback about this, and some survivors have decided that they didn’t need counselling after attending the group work. Feedback includes: ‘This group has been invaluable so grateful for this experience and have made great friends too. I now feel strong enough to manage the next step in my recovery journey. Thank you’. ‘Thank you for your support, the group has changed my life. My self-acceptance and ability to support and understand myself is ever changed’’. |
Age
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| RASASC supports anyone over the age of 13 from across Surrey, who have been raped, sexually abused or have had an unwanted sexual experience. They support survivors regardless of whether they have reported their case to the Police or not. RASASC’ team of ISVAs cover a range of client needs including young people from age 13. According to the census 2021 82.1% of the Surrey population is aged 15 and above. 6.4% of the population are aged between 10-14. 11.7% of the population are aged 9 and below. The majority of the victims that this service supported in the financial year 23/24 were aged between 18-34 years old (25.16%). Approximately 4.76% of the victims were aged between 13-17 years old, approx 16.5 % were aged between 35 – 54 years old, 3.86% were aged between 55-74 years old and 0.26% were aged 75 or over and 49.4% didn’t state their age (MOJ returns 2024). As part of the Preventing VAWG and Supporting Children (PVSC) Home Office funding this service is has supported the Surrey Healthy Schools with informing their PSHE training and has co-produced presentations with them for teachers in both primary and secondary schools. This service supported 21 victims through the PVSC project work in the financial year 23/24. 23.8 % of the referrals received were aged 12-15 and 76.1% aged 16-19 (PVSC Home Office returns 23/24). During 23-24, 162 adult survivors of sexual harm received specialist, one to one counselling support and 68 people started counselling. Most adults supported fell into the 18-34 age bracket (46%) followed closely by 35-54 (37%). Young people aged 13-18/19 are supported by their specialist youth counselling service. Surrey Police data (2023/2024) shows that the majority of RASSO victims were aged between 13-17 years old (28%) (this is a different age profile to the majority of cases RASASC supports) , 19.4% were aged between 18-25, 15.7% were aged 13 or below, 12.6% aged 26-33, 9.2% aged 34-41, 7.1% aged 42-49, 4.1% aged 50-57 and 3.3% were aged 58 and above. The majority of RASSO offences recorded included Sexual assault on a female aged 13 and over (30.6%), 26.5% of reports included Rape of a female aged 16 and over. 7.1% of reports included Sexual activity involving child under 16, 5.8% Sexual assault on a female child under 13, 5.45% Sexual assault on a male aged 13 and over, 4.5% Rape of a female child under 16, 3.5% Sexual activity involving a child under 13, 2.5% Sexual assault on a male child under 13, 2.4% Rape of a female child under 13, 2.1% Rape of a male aged 16 and over, 1.5% Rape of a male child under 13. Police recorded crime data supplied from 31 police forces showed that in the year ending March 2022 females aged 15 to 19 years and males aged 10 to 14 years were most likely to be victims of sexual offences (CSEW 2022). RASASC’s Youth ISVA actively engages with schools and young people and as part of the Preventing VAWG and Supporting Children (PVSC) project. RASASC’s youth ISVA is in the process of setting up an online forum for school leadership/PHSE teams to promote the VAWG school’s package. They are hoping that this will take place in the Autumn Term (2024) for 1.5 hours and will cover: The concerns and needs of schools in relation to sexual harm in their school communities. An overview of the problem (data, stats, RASASC work and perspectives). An outline of how RASASC can support with this (specifically in relation to the PSHE project). Creating a discussion/forum platform for the invitees. In November 2023, RASASC opened their first Instagram account to allow them to reach younger people (the core user age for Instagram is 18-25). Since November 2023, they have gained 89 followers. As of November 2024, the RASASC Instagram account (@rasasc_gf) has 121 followers – an increase of 35% in 12 months, 26 of these are organisations or counselling professionals. RASASC has attended Freshers Fairs for the past 2 years at both at the University of Surrey and the Royal Holloway University. They have contacted the Student Support Manager to provide RASASC wallet cards and information to students. They are also working with them to get RASASC stickers on backs of toilet doors. This service regularly attends the University of Creative Arts in Farnham and have a presence at wellbeing fairs, mental health week and personal safety events. RASASC also supports students through any referrals they receive. They recently attended a Volunteering Engagement event which generated lots of interest in their services from attendees from the University, both from a volunteering and service user perspective. They have also attended personal safety events at Guildford College. RASASC provide a monthly RASASC clinic on the last Thursday of each month at the University of Surrey. They attended a wellbeing event at Surrey University. RASASC are not currently able to share any feedback received from different ages of victims that they support as this is hard to collate this at this time but this service could do going forward after gaining explicit consent to use from their clients. |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| To ensure that victims aged 13 and below are supported Surrey OPCC commissions child ISVA’s through the Surrey and Borders Partnership (SABP) NHS Trust, Sexual Trauma Assessment and Recovery Service (STARS). STARS is a sexual trauma service which specialises in supporting and providing therapeutic interventions to children and young people who have suffered sexual trauma in Surrey. The Childrens Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (CISVA’s) offer support to young people who live in Surrey up to the age of 18 years old through the criminal investigation process. Surrey OPCC have provided additional funding via the MOJ to extend this provision up to the age of 25. This extends provision for both the CISVA and therapeutic intervention. RASASC don’t currently record any contact or calls that they receive from children under the age of 13 but they signpost them onto STARS. RASASC haven’t referred many victims aged over 13 onto STARS and haven’t recorded any data around this. By having a Youth ISVA lead this service is being proactive in trying to reach younger victims of RASSO. RASASC isn’t currently doing anything to proactively reach victims aged 55 and older at this time. |
Disability or neurodiversity
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| According toSurrey census information of all the usual residents, those that are disabled under the equality act equate to 13.8 % of the population and 7.4 % have a long term physical or mental health condition (A usual resident is anyone who on Census Day, 21 March 2021, was in the UK and had stayed or intended to stay in the UK for a period of 12 months or more or had a permanent UK address and was outside the UK and intended to be outside the UK for less than 12 months). RASASC’s team of ISVAs cover a range of client needs including those with mental health needs, physical and mental disabilities. RASASC has an ISVA Disability lead, ISVA Mental Health lead and an ISVA NHS lead. In the financial year 23/24 this service supported just over 9.7% of victims who had a disability, 11.5% didn’t have a disability and just under 78.8% didn’t state whether they had a disability (MOJ returns 2024). Through the referrals received as a result of Home Office PVSC project in 2023 of victims aged 12-19, 19% had a mental health impairment, 14.2% had a learning disability and 66.66% of the referrals their disability was unknown. 47.61% stated that they had an additional need of mental health. 47.6% preferred not to say whether they had an additional need. Unfortunately, there is no Surrey Police data around this protected characteristic within their RASSO reports, however, Surrey Police data (2023/2024) shows that 0.2% of their RASSO reports related to Sexual activity etc with a person with a mental disorder. RASASC have recently recruited Disabled ISVA. RASASC’s clients often don’t disclose or state whether they have a disability, and therefore their Disabled ISVA is working towards enabling their clients to feel more comfortable doing this. The disabled ISVA will endeavour to build relationships with charities and organisations that support neurodiversity and ADHD in particular and make them aware of RASASCs support, as they are aware that a high number of their clients have these disabilities. RASASC’s NHS ISVA works on raising awareness of their services and explaining how NHS professionals can refer clients/patients to them. They inform medical/mental health professionals on how they can be more trauma-informed and how to handle first disclosures. They also explain the reporting process. They are sharing their healthcare trauma cards and have completed training at St Peters Hospital, and presentations both on and offline. As part of the PVSC project RASASC are working with a SEN school to develop some small group workshops due to the additional needs of their pupils. They are hoping they can use this opportunity to develop a format for other SEN providers. RASASC have added an accessibility button on their website which will highlight links, remove images, increase font size, switch to dyslexic-friendly fonts etc. For those unable to use the stairs to RASASC’s 2nd floor offices RASASC have a lift. Once in the offices, RASASC have modern and easily accessible rooms with sufficient space for wheelchairs e.g. this service always asks about accessibility needs at assessment and this includes physical as well as other, potentially invisible needs (e.g. neurodivergent clients). This service makes every effort to accommodate individual needs, including allowing companion/therapy pets when appropriate. If clients can’t attend in person, they offer services online so that they can receive the same ‘offer’ and are not discriminated against in any way. RASASC had a client with autism who wrote to highlight how she felt this service had not sufficiently acknowledged their particular needs with regards to clarity about communication and appointment times. RASASC offered to meet with them to understand better and they engaged very helpfully with RASASC, they were able to hear their suggestions about what would work better and RASASC have incorporated these into their team practices and engaged with further training on neurodiversity in general. The client in question said afterwards that they appreciated the efforts RASASC had made to understand their needs and was reassured and pleased to know that this service would be incorporating changes and improvements as a result. This example demonstrates how this service adapted their approach upon receiving this feedback to improve their support to victims. |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| Through RASASC’s ISVA Disability lead, ISVA Mental Health lead and an ISVA NHS lead this service is trying to ensure that victims with a disability or neurodiversity are able to access their support. The above also shows that this service will take on board any feedback from clients with a disability or neurodiversity and learn from this to improve their service to victims in the future. |
Gender reassignment
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| According toSurrey census information of all usual residents aged 16 and over, 94.4 % of people identified as having the same gender identity as their sex registered at birth. 0.4% either identified as the different sex that they were registered at birth, as a trans women, trans man, or non-binary. 5.2% didn’t answer this question. Surrey Police data (2023/2024) shows that 0.3% of victims identified as non-binary, 0.44% were trans female to male and 0.1% were trans male to female. In the financial year 23/24, 87.52% of the victims that this service supported identified as a woman (including transwomen) and 11.87% identified as a man (including trans men). (MOJ returns 2024). From the victims supported by the PVSC Home Office project 23/24 only a small percentage of the victims supported by RASASC identified as male gender and majority were identified as female gender. None of the victims identified as transgender man, transgender woman or non-binary. This service has a LGBTQ+ ISVA lead and Male ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisors) leads, and their service has worked hard to raise awareness that their services are fully accessible to all genders, aged 13 upwards. This has included increasing social media posts on commemorative days such as international men’s day (Nov 23) Transgender Day of Remembrance and LGBT history month. This service has experience of supporting survivors who are transgender and supported a client who wasn’t having a good experience of transitioning through the NHS. This service supported the survivor through providing them with helpline details and details of in person and online groups which the client stated they found very useful. |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| This service is proactively raising awareness that their service supports all victims no matter their gender identity. |
Marriage and civil partnership
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| According toSurrey census information 50.6 % of residents aged over 16 were married or registered in a civil partnership. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) year ending March 2022 a higher proportion of single adults were victims of more sexual assault in the last year than those with any other marital status. Data shows that for female victims of rape, the perpetrator was most likely to be an intimate partner (46%), whereas for male victims of rape the perpetrator was most likely to be an acquaintance (38%) (CSEW 2022). A significant proportion of rape occurs within an intimate relationship, against a background of domestic abuse, involving power and control (CPS). 1 in 2 rapes against women are carried out by their partner or ex-partner (Rape Crisis- England and Wales). Unfortunately, there is no Surrey Police data around this protected characteristic within their RASSO reports. ‘Victims of forced marriage may be subjected to threats, physical violence or sexual violence, or psychological or emotional pressure, including being made to feel like they’re bringing shame on their family if they do not proceed’ (https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/crime-prevention/crime-types/domestic-abuse/forced-marriage). As far as they are aware RASASC have not received any cases where the victim has been at risk of forced marriage or is in a forced marriage. RASASC believe that the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership would support victims of this kind. Most victims who have been sexually abused by their partners are supported by the Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership. RASASC do support some victims of sexual offences where the suspect was in a relationship with the victim at the time of the offence. The survivors of this type of abuse struggle emotionally to understand why someone they loved (and believed loved them) would be so brutal. RASASC provide emotional support and support to manage flashbacks and nightmares, suggesting coping strategies for these as well as make suggestions around changing their environment to make it feel safe. RASASC will also signpost or refer to other counselling organisations such as Centre for Psychology or Circles Counselling where often needed. RASASC will liaise with DA agencies, Social Services and Mental Health (MH) services to see what support they may be providing. If no other agency is involved and if a need is identified, then RASASC will refer to other agencies and speak to MH workers around any concerns for the client’s mental wellbeing. RASASC will also liaise with police and get updates if the client wishes. If there are other issues that RASASC can’t support with, their service will research other support and signpost if necessary. RASASC will check in with these clients every 5 weeks unless they need support in the interim. This service has recognised that perpetrators tend to emotionally abuse their clients through their children and that there is a need to look at Children’s support services around this area. |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| The Surrey Domestic Abuse service usually support victims of Sexual offences where the suspect is an intimate partner but RASASC do support some victims where the perpetrator was an intimate partner but they will liaise with the relevant agencies to ensure that they receive the most appropriate support. |
Pregnancy and maternity
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| The office for national statistics shows that in Surrey between 2013 to 2020 there were 15,070 conceptions (all ages) and 21.8% of conceptions led to abortion (all ages), there were 146 live births where the mothers were under the age of 20. In 2020 there were 11,880 live births (all ages) and 11,719 maternities. There were 7,596 Live births within marriage or civil partnership. 4,284 Live births outside marriage or civil partnership. There were 351 Live births with sole registrations. There were 852 live births where the mothers were aged between 20-25. Between 2017-2019 there were 88 conceptions of those aged under 16. The percentage of conceptions leading to abortion in under-16s in 2017-2019 was 78.4%. (surreyi.gov.uk). ‘It is estimated that thousands of children are conceived from rape each year (Ministry of Justice, Law to recognise children born as a result of rape as victims for the first time, 2023). ‘Sexual violence can negatively affect women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health, and may increase the risk of acquiring HIV in some settings. It can lead to unintended pregnancies, induced abortions, gynaecological problems, and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV’(World Health Organization website). Unfortunately, there is no Surrey Police data around this protected characteristic within their RASSO reports. Pregnancy and maternity is not captured within the MOJ reports. RASASC don’t necessarily/routinely ask about pregnancy or maternity as part of their referral process. They do capture this where it may be a consideration. They do capture this information where pregnancy is disclosed as part of the sexual offence or is part of the support required. To date, RASASC have not done anything to specifically reach out to those who are pregnant /on maternity. RASASC’s NHS ISVA lead works on raising awareness of RASASC’s services and explaining how NHS professionals can refer clients/patients to them. They also provide advice to medical/mental health professionals around how they can be more trauma-informed and how to handle first disclosures. They also explain the reporting process so they’re aware of it whilst also not pressuring people to report. They do this through networking, sharing RASASC’s healthcare trauma cards, training at St Peters Hospital, and presentations both on and offline. RASASC have provided a presentation to maternity nurses at the Royal Surrey County Hospital Maternity Unit. They also delivered “Trauma Cards” to the maternity unit which were handed out to midwives and taken to the maternity unit. They were provided with excellent feedback on evaluation forms. They delivered training at St Peter’s Hospital (30min sessions with front line staff). This was due to them recognising their lack of trauma-informed care when it came to catheters. The training was around the impact of Sexual violence for survivors in medical procedures along with how the hospital staff could refer patients to RASASC. |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| The above shows that this service is proactively working alongside the NHS to ensure that they are aware of their services in case a disclosure is made to them. SDAP would ordinarily support victims of sexual offences where the suspect was an intimate partner. Consideration could be made around raising awareness of their service through GP practices and Health visiting teams within Surrey to promote their services. |
Ethnicity
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| RASASCs team of ISVAs cover a range of client needs including survivors from hard to reach and marginalised communities. According to Surrey 2021 census ethnicity data 85.5% of people identified as white, 7.7% as Asian, 1.7 % as black, 3.4% as mixed or multiple ethnic groups and 1.7% as other ethnic group. 91.2 % of all the adults in household have English or Welsh as a main language. 4.2 % had at least one but not all adults in household who have English or Welsh as a main language. 1.1% had no adults in household, but at least one person aged 3 to 15 years who had English or Welsh as a main language. 3.5% had no people in their household that had English or Welsh as a main language. Surrey Police RASSO v |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| This service is proactively looking at ways to ensure that ethnicity isn’t a barrier to a victim seeking support from their service. They have identified the need to regularly look at this as part of their EDI working group and training their staff on EDI. |
Religion or belief
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| RASASCs team of ISVAs cover a range of client needs including survivors from hard to reach and marginalised communities. According to Surrey census data 50.1% identified as being Christian, 36.6% had no religion, 3.2% identified as Muslim, 2% as Hindu, 0.6% as Buddhist, 0.6% as Sikh, 0.3% as Jewish and 0.5% as other religion. Religion or belief is not captured within the MOJ reports. From the victims supported by the PVSC Home Office project 23/24, 4.76% of the victims supported were Christian but the majority or victims’ religion was unknown and 19% had no religion. RASASC asks for their client’s religion or belief as part of the referral process, but this is often not stated. RASASC are exploring whether there is anything that they can do to ensure that all victims no matter their religion feel able to seek support through RASASC through their Outreach ISVA work as well as discussions and planning in their Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) working group. RASASC are currently sourcing the best quality affordable EDI training for their staff and volunteers to enhance their awareness and improve accessibility to all. |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| Through RASASC’s new EDI working group and training their staff on EDI they are proactively exploring ways to ensure that religion or belief is not a barrier to victims seeking support from their services. |
Sex
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) are committed primarily by men against women and girls but can also be perpetrated against men and boys (CPS website). Violence against women and girls (VAWG) covers a range of unacceptable and deeply distressing crimes, including rape and other sexual offences, stalking, domestic abuse, ‘honour’-based abuse (including female genital mutilation, forced marriage and ‘honour’ killings), ‘revenge porn’ and ‘upskirting’, as well as many others. These crimes disproportionately affect women and girls. However, men and boys can also be victims of violence and abuse…(Home Office, Violence against women and girls national statement of expectations, 2022). According toSurrey census information 51.2% of all usual residents were female and 48.8% were male. The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) year ending March 2022 shows the following trends: an estimated 3.3% of women (798,000) and 1.2% of men (275,000) aged 16 years and over experienced sexual assault (including attempts) in the last year. Crimes recorded by the police in the year ending March 2022 show that for female victims of rape, the perpetrator was most likely to be an intimate partner (46%), whereas for male victims of rape the perpetrator was most likely to be an acquaintance (38%) (CSEW 2022). Surrey Police data (2023/2024) shows that the majority of RASSO victims’ gender was female (75.6%), and 15.3% were male. The highest RASSO offences recorded included Sexual assault on a female aged 13 and over (30.6%) compared with 4.5% of reports relating to Sexual assault on a male aged 13 and over. 26.5% of reports included Rape of a female aged 16 and over compared with 2.1% Rape of a male aged 16 and over. 5.8% of reports related to Sexual assault on a female child under 13 compared with 2.5% Sexual assault on a male child under 13. 5.45% of reports related to Rape of a female child under 16 compared with 0.76% Rape of a male child under 16. 4% of reports related to Rape of a female child under 13 compared with 1.5% Rape of a male child under 13. In the financial year 23/24, 87.52% of the victims that this service supported identified as a woman (including transwomen) and 11.87% identified as a man (including trans men). (MOJ returns 2024). From the victims supported by the PVSC Home Office project 23/24 only a small percentage of the victims supported by RASASC identified as male gender and majority were identified as female gender (MOJ reports 23/24). From the victims supported through the PVSC Home Office project, under 5% of the victims supported were male compared with 95% of female. During 23-24 162 adult survivors of sexual harm received specialist, one to one counselling support and 68 people started counselling. 88% of those supported were female and 9% were male. 3% identified as non-binary, this is an increase on last year. RASASC’s ISVAs cover a range of client needs including female and male survivors. RASASC have worked hard to raise awareness that their services are fully accessible to all genders, aged 13 upwards. This has included increasing social media posts on commemorative days such as international men’s day (Nov 23). They have a specialist Male ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisors) lead, who signpost their clients into the counselling service, and can provide them with ISVA support while wait for counselling. They are also in the process of starting a male only therapy group. RASASC are working with Mentell which is a UK charity that provides men’s groups for males aged 18+ to talk in a safe and confidential space, free from advice and judgement. Within a 6-month period in 2024 RASASC supported 100 males in total including one transgender male. Of the males supported 3 males were aged between 13-17, 44 males were aged between 18-34, 34 males were aged between 35-54 and 8 males were aged between 55-74, they supported one male aged over 75. 5 of the males this service supported didn’t provide their age. This support covers all RASASC’s services except the helpline. Compared to previous data, males and boys have increased in number of our service users. |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| This service is proactively exploring ways to ensure that sex is not a barrier to seeking support from them. They are doing this by reviewing their promotional materials to try and address this. From experience this service feels that a female male lead is more beneficial than a male ISVA because most perpetrators are male, but this is something that they can explore going forward. It is also important to recognise that Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) are committed primarily by men against women and girls…(CPS website). |
Sexual orientation
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| Sexual Orientation can be a barrier for victims to seek support for RASSO offences. ‘Many LGBT+ people worry that if they tell the police or another service, the person they talk to will not understand and will ask questions that can feel intrusive, gratuitous or express disbelief, disgust or judgement. LGBT+ people may feel forced to explain LGBT+ identities, language and community norms or risk a homophobic, biphobic or transphobic reaction from the person they tell. Services can assume that people are heterosexual and/or cisgender until proved otherwise. LGBT+ people have to make a choice about whether to ‘out’ themselves and let the service know that they are not heterosexual and/or cisgender, especially when they are not sure how the service will respond. Some LGBT+ people face immediate judgement about who they are and what they have experienced, simply because of what they look or sound like. This lived experience can make LGBT+ people feel cautious or feel that they must keep some things private. For those LGBT+ people who experience sexual violence from another LGBT+ person, it can be hard to acknowledge that the person who’s hurting them is someone from their own community, someone who may also experience discrimination and violence as an LGBT+ person. LGBT+ people might worry about additional negative consequences if they speak up, such as being outed or ostracised from their community or exposed to a dismissive or discriminatory response. If the service response isn’t LGBT+ aware, then it can potentially make the situation more unsafe for the survivor. LGBT+ people experience sexual violence, in all sorts of circumstances. They experience the same impacts of trauma as non-LGBT+ people and the similar challenges that non LGBT+ people experience in telling someone about what’s happened. But in addition, LGBT+ people experience specific barriers and concerns about speaking up because of the impact of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. Services are not always effective at recognising or supporting LGBT+ people. LGBT+ communities are not always able and willing to acknowledge sexual violence as a lived experience for many people or that LGBT+ people can hurt each other (Survivors UK website, 2024). According toSurrey census information of all usual residents aged 16 or over 90.7% residents stated that they were straight or heterosexual, 1.2% identified as gay or lesbian, 1.1% as bisexual, 0.1% as pansexual, 0.1% as asexual and 0.1% as all other sexual orientations. 6.9% didn’t answer this question. Surrey Police data (2023/2024) shows that 0.3% of victims identified as non-binary, 0.44% were trans female to male and 0.1% were trans male to female. Of the victims supported by the PVSC project 23/24 47.6% identified as heterosexual or straight, 52.3% of the victim’s sexual orientation was unknown. During 2023/2024 162 adult survivors of sexual harm received specialist, one to one counselling support and 68 people started counselling. 88% of those supported were female and 9% were male. 3% identified as non-binary, this is an increase on last year. This service has a LGBTQ+ ISVA lead. This role includes educating and informing their colleagues. They send emails to team members to coincide with Pride month and Trans Remembrance day. In these emails they also include signposting opportunities for our clients. RASASC is working hard to engage with the LGBTQ+ community through their social media and presence at events like Surrey Pride (this service had a stand at a Surrey Pride event) and various Freshers Weeks. They have engaged with Blossom LGBT to talk about their service on the understanding they will, where necessary, refer clients to us (Blossom LGBTQ+ support LGBTQ+ young adults, often aged between 16 to 30, based in Southeast England and the people who live & work alongside them). RASASC have attempted to engage with Surrey Pride and Outline Surrey but unfortunately not been successful currently. |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| This service is proactively exploring ways to ensure that sexual orientation is not a barrier to accessing support from this service. |
Socio-economic background
Our socio-economic background is a combination of different factors, such as our income, occupation and social background. A person’s socio-economic background can expose them to inequalities, so it’s important to understand how your project could affect different socio-economic groups. Further information about socio-economic status can be found in the Cabinet Office Measuring socio-economic background in your workforce guidance.
| Details of positive and/or adverse impact or other issue |
| RASASC is based in Guildford which is easily accessible by local transport. The ISVA’s and counsellors don’t attend their clients’ homes. The ISVA’s can either meet clients in the RASASC office or meet in community spaces where appropriate. Counselling takes place in the Guildford office, and RASASC offer remote sessions via video call. ISVA’s will attend court with a survivor. According to Surrey census information 30.8% of households are deprived in one dimension, 9.9% of households are deprived in two dimensions, 2% are deprived in three dimensions and 0.2% in four dimensions. The dimensions of the deprivation are based on four household characteristics including education, employment, health and housing. 2.6% of all the population have bad health and 0.7% very bad health. 1% of the population does not have central heating. 3.2% of households have fewer bedrooms than required.11.4% of all households live in social rented housing through a local council or housing association. 0.8% of all households live in a caravan or other mobile or temporary structure compared with 76.6% who live in a whole house or bungalow. 5.5% of the population aged 16 and over have never worked and are long term unemployed. 12.9% of the population aged 16 and over have no qualifications. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) year ending March 2022 a higher proportion of full-time students were victims of sexual assault in the last year than those in any other occupation type (Please see the age section for the proactive work this service is doing within Universities). RASASC noticed that calls to their telephone helpline had been plateauing over the last few years and that there was a need to offer people another way to get in touch with them. They launched a Live Chat service in March 2024, to give people a different and easier method of getting in touch with them. Over the last four years, this service has concentrated on publishing regular relevant content on their existing social media channels (Facebook, Twitter (X) and LinkedIn), as well as growing relationships by liking, sharing and commenting on other relevant accounts. This has enabled them to really establish their presence on social media. Since September 2020, they have since seen a growth on all three social media channels (278% increase on LinkedIn, 85% increase on Facebook, 1% on Twitter X) While audience growth is much slower on Twitter (X) they are more engaged, responding, commenting and sharing our posts more frequently. It’s important to acknowledge that because ‘Rape remains one of the complex criminal offences we deal with…’ and that ‘…the crime of rape is commonly misunderstood.’ (CPS website, 2024, tackling Rape, Myths and stereotypes) that socio economic factors including previous convictions are likely to be a barrier for reports of RASSO. ‘Women and girls can experience significant harm as a result of their association with gang members, including sexual violence and exploitation…many victims of sexual, physical and emotional abuse can also be drawn into offending behaviour’ …The human cost of VAWG is high. Experiences of abuse have serious psychological, emotional and physical consequences and may contribute to multiple disadvantage, or a chaotic lifestyle involving substance misuse, homelessness, offending behaviour, gang involvement, prostitution or mental health problems’ (Home Office, Violence against women and girls national statement of expectations, 2022). RASASC has a community Outreach ISVA lead who has been working closely with Guildford Action Homeless Centre Guildford Action where they are holding a RASASC Clinic where homeless people can speak 1:1 (specifically men) to support homeless men who are victims of sexual harm. They have also attended Renewed Hope Centre in Redhill for the homeless to provide information and promote RASASC. They are working alongside the Hepatitis C trust and Street Angels. They have provided leaflets and cards to community centres such as the Hive community centre in Guildford and have designed a screen for RASASC’s information to be added to the scrolling banners on the TV’s within The HIVE. Once a month RASASC holds a RASASC Clinic, so people can speak to an ISVA 1:1. They have also attended a Guildford Family Centre Community Networking meeting. Of the victims supported as a result of the PVSC Home Office project 23/24, 4.7% of the victims stated they had the additional need of drug misuse. RASASC has provided talks to the Social Prescribing Team from Surrey County Council (Social prescribing involves helping patients to improve their health, wellbeing and social welfare by connecting them to community services which might be run by the council or a local charity). They coordinated a team of volunteers to promote RASASC at Co-op stores as part of their Local Community Fund. RASASC’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead and sex worker lead is a member of the Surrey IAG (Independent Advisory Group) helping Surrey police to formulate their strategy in dealing with diverse groups that live in Surrey. Members from different communities attend this group which provides the opportunity to talk to them about the role of RASASC. They are also a member of the Elmbridge Equality and Diversity Forum. RASASC’s sex worker lead is attending ‘Supporting Sex Workers Training’ on the 15th of October 2025. ‘Perpetrators often deliberately target individuals on the basis that they are less likely to be believed, which can include prostitutes/sex workers’ (CPS website, 2024)’…people involved in prostitution can be particularly vulnerable to sexual and other violent crime and may in fact be victims of child sexual exploitation or modern slavery (Home Office, Violence against women and girls national statement of expectations, 2022). |
| Mitigating action for any adverse impact or rationale for no further action |
| RASASC are proactively engaging and exploring ways to ensure that all victims no matter their socio-economic background feel able to access their support and they are ensuring that they have a visible presence within community spaces as well as online. |
Other characteristics
Use this section to consider the PSED aims and any impacts your product may have on characteristics that are not protected under the Equality Act 2010 but are still significant to equality and inclusion. For example, your product may have a particular effect on people with caring responsibilities or on people with English as an added language, or you may need to consider the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 in delivery. Think creatively and invite input from stakeholders.
| Details of impact or other issue |
| Mitigating action or rationale for no further action |
Action log
Record EIA actions and monitor action progress in the optional action log.
Age – For this service to consider proactively reaching out to victims aged 55 or older.
Pregnancy or Maternity –Consideration could be made around this service raising awareness of their service through GP practices and Health visiting teams within Surrey to promote their services.
Ethnicity – To explore any learning that has come from RASASC’s EDI working group or training to ensure that ethnicity is not a barrier to victims seeking support from their services.
Gender reassignment – For this service to link in with local LGBTQ+ groups to promote their service.
Religion or Belief – To explore any learning that has come from RASASC’s EDI working group or training to ensure that religion or belief is not a barrier to victims seeking support from their services.