Synergy Essex Rape Crisis Partnership

Synergy Essex offer an Essex-wide service providing specialist emotional support, counselling, advocacy and other services to support adults, children, young people, their families and supporters.

All our staff and volunteers are trained to provide specialist support. We offer services from accessible sites across Essex.

Synergy Essex is a partnership of SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service, Southend Rape Crisis Centre (SOSRC) and Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse (CARA).

Contact us to make a self-referral or if you prefer, an agency supporting you such as the police, can contact us on your behalf

First Contact

We will contact you by phone or email. We aim to do this as soon as possible upon receiving your referral. If the ISVA service seems the right service
for you, we will offer a meeting at a time to suit you. When you first meet with the adviser (ISVA), you can talk to them about your needs and what kind of support you would find helpful. We will also give you information about all of our services, confidentiality and discuss any safety or risk concerns you may raise.

What support you may need

Reporting to the Police – ISVA’s can provide you with information on the criminal justice process on what you can expect if you report to the police
and court processes. ISVAs can be a ‘single point of contact’ to support you through the criminal justice system which includes the police, witness care and the Crown Prosecution Service, as part of the requirements of the Victims Code 2020 section 4.8. ISVA’s can liaise with other agencies on your behalf such as your school, college, employer, sexual health services and social care.