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Sexual Assault Response Coordination Services (SARCS) Campaign
SARCS is a dedicated NHS Scotland service which offers healthcare and support in the days after a rape or sexual assault, if people are not ready or are unsure about reporting to the police.
The Scottish Government campaign to raise awareness of SARCS in Scotland goes live this week. The campaign consists of outdoor, social media, search and PR activity.
A dedicated NHS sexual assault service is available to support anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted within the last 7 days, if they are not ready to tell the police or are unsure. Anyone aged 16 or over can self-refer to a SARCS by calling the dedicated SARCS national telephone service, and you can find out more at nhsinform.scot/SARCS
Across Scotland, SARCS will look after people's immediate healthcare and wellbeing needs and can support people to have a forensic medical examination if appropriate. This includes collecting forensic evidence (which can be kept for up to 26 months) should they want to report to the police at a later date.
How You Can Help
You can show your support by:
- Sharing the campaign images and videos via your social channels
- Circulating the Stakeholder Toolkit with relevant contacts
- Displaying and distributing the leaflets and posters
- Re-sharing content via the Healthier Scotland Facebook page and Safer Scotland Facebook page to your audiences
Stakeholder Toolkit
This toolkit contains the following:
- Campaign key messages
- Example social posts
- Social media images and videos
- Specific newsletter content for university and colleges to use targeted at students
- Posters (please note these work best in private, safe spaces, e.g. changing rooms and toilets)
- Leaflet and accessible options (Easy Read, Large Format and Audio with Braille options available upon request)
If you have any questions on any of the above, please do get in touch. Your support is invaluable in helping us continue to spread the message of this important service.