Raising awareness of abuse for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

This April we are working to raise awareness of violence against women and girls (VAWG), and the types of support that are available to those in need.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month starts every year in April. Starting in the 1940s with movements for social change and equality, it has grown to become an awareness month aimed at raising visibility around sexual assault, and how to prevent it year-round.

We all need to do our part to prevent all kinds of VAWG from escalating. We work with local community organisations and groups to tackle the problem by prioritising changing behaviours, accessing support, and holding perpetrators to account.

We know residents also want to do their part in ending VAWG, so we also provide support to help you take action. In certain circumstances, you may not even feel safe to intervene. However, there are many non-confrontational ways to challenge wrongdoing and avoid being a bystander.

Local support for survivors

RapeCrisis provide 24/7 rape and sexual abuse support on their phone line and via their online chat. You can call the rape and sexual abuse support line on 0808 500 2222.

Women & Girls Network’s sexual violence helpline gives free and confidential emotional support for anyone in London, who self identifies as a woman (aged 14 years+), and who has been affected by any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives. You can call the freephone helpline on 0808 801 0770.

Galop is a service run by LGBT+ people, for LGBT+ people, specialising in supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, so-called conversion therapies, and other forms of interpersonal abuse.

Find out where to get help for domestic abuse.