We offer free and confidential practical and emotional support to both children and adults who have experienced rape, sexual violence, sexual abuse or childhood sexual abuse – whether recent or non-recent.
Our aim is to help give you the confidence, support and information you need to take control of your situation and move forward.
What does our Onyx programme in Bedfordshire aim to do?
Our Onyx service helps anyone who has been the victim of unwanted sexual contact. If you have been raped or sexually abused at any time in your life, our Onyx service can offer you practical support to deal with your circumstances. Our aim is to help give you the confidence, support and information you need to take control of your situation and move forward.
Our service is available to men, women, children and families, regardless of whether you have told the police or anyone else about the attack.
Our service is free and confidential for anyone who needs to access it.
What do we do?
Firstly we listen, we want to create a safety support plan that meets your needs. We may create a support plan that involves other agencies such as Housing, and Health, Social care.
We will also give you information to help you decide whether you want to report the incident(s) to the Police. You do not have to report the incident. If you decide not to report the matter, we will still provide you with support.
If you do decide to report the matter your worker will help you through the whole process, including working with the Police and the rest of the criminal justice system. Examples of the type of support your ISVA will provide include:
- Liaising with the police, courts, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and other public agencies
- Keeping you informed of developments in your case
- Advocating on your behalf
- Supporting you before and during any court case
What areas of sexual abuse may you be referred into the service for?
- Rape
- Sexual assault
- Sexual Harassment
- Childhood sexual abuse
- Trafficking and Exploitation
- Harmful practices
- Child Sexual Exploitation
We accept referrals from all agencies and also self-referral direct from clients.
What does our Onyx programme in Hertfordshire aim to do?
Our Onyx in Hertfordshire service helps anyone who has been the victim of trafficking for sexual exploitation or the victim of sexual exploitation. If you have been forced into prostitution, escort work, pornography or any form of sexual abuse, the service can offer practical and emotional support.
Our aim is to support and provide you with information, giving you the confidence to take control of the situation and enable you to move forward.
The service is available to men, women, children, and families, regardless of whether it has been reported to the police or anyone else.
The service is free and confidential for anyone who needs to access it.
What do we do?
We listen to victims and carry out an assessment of your needs, we then create a support plan around those needs, this could include things such as Healthcare, Housing and Social Care. We will support you whether you report to the police or not.
However, to assist you in making an informed decision we will give you information about what reporting to the police means and answer any questions that you might have.
If you do decide to report to the police, we will support you through the whole process:
- Making the report
- Liaising with the Police, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Courts and other agencies on your behalf.
- Be a single point of contact for you to keep you updated on the case, advocating on your behalf throughout
- Supporting you from the start, right through any court case.
What areas of sexual abuse may you be referred into the service for?
Any sexual violence, abuse or assault through trafficking or other exploitation, including:
- Rape
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Harassment
- Child Sexual Exploitation
- Harmful Practises
Although not an exhaustive list, some identified areas of exploitation include:
- Prostitution
- Escort Work
- Pornography
We accept referrals from all agencies as well as self-referrals directly from clients.
