Former Youth Commission CEO will be heading up Sarc

Now that a manager has been appointed and accommodation has been secured, the Sexual Assault Referral Centre is well on the way to being fully set up.

Former CEO of the Youth Commission, Charlie Cox, will be leading the service, which will ensure that people who have been sexually assaulted can access the right support at the right time.

‘Although there are people who go down the police route, we know that there are a huge amount of people who are sexually assaulted but don’t feel able to go to the police,’ she said.

‘It is an amazing opportunity to create something where people can access support that wasn’t there before.’

The Sarc will launch as a three-year pilot, in order to mould the service to the island’s needs.

The pilot will also dictate its future, whether that be as an independent service or commissioned out to the third sector.

‘We have no idea what kind of numbers will be walking through the door, or the demographic of those people, so it allows us to adapt accordingly,’ said Ms Cox.

‘The most important thing for me is speaking to people who have been sexually assaulted about their experience, so I can really learn the bits on their journey that we can make better.’

She will be visiting the Jersey Sarc, which has just finished its pilot phase, to see what can be incorporated in Guernsey.

Sue Aldwell, Home Affairs’ domestic abuse and sexual violence lead, said that Ms Cox had already started creating pathways with her contacts in third sector organisations.

‘Charlie understands young people and this is also going to be open to everybody, including young people, and I don’t think we could have asked for a better candidate,’ said Deputy Aldwell.

‘Any assault or domestic abuse is isolating, and so you need to tell somebody and stop the feeling of isolation, and that is what the Sarc is for.’

Accommodation for the service has been sorted, with everything required, including a forensic room.

The name Sarc will also be changed, to allow it to be more identifiable, and to involve the community in the set-up process.

The location of the service has not been publicised, while a new name is still to be confirmed.