About Us
About Us
Scottish Borders Rape Crisis Centre (SBRCC) was established in 2010. We provide emotional and practical support, information, and advocacy to hundreds of survivors of sexual violence every year.
We are a specialist service providing support to survivors in the Scottish Borders at our centre or in safe outreach venues across the region. Our workers are trained to a high standard and share the view that gender-based violence is an abuse of power and should not happen.
We will listen, believe, and support self-identifying females aged 18+ in our Sunrise service and all young people of any gender/gender identity aged 12-18 in our Unity service.
For other services we offer please see more information in Our services.
Our Sunrise service is inclusive to self-identifying females aged 18+ of any race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, or religion/cultural background. Our Unity service is inclusive to survivors aged between 12-18 of any race, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, ability, or religion/cultural background.
Our support services are person-centered, and survivor led, survivor involvement is very important to us. Our organisation and support services are underpinned by trauma informed principles, we build relationships where trust, collaboration, safety, choice, and empowerment are at the heart of our ethos, values, and support. This is partnered with a deep understanding of a gendered analysis of violence and the impact of sexual violence. We stand alongside survivors, at their pace, never putting pressure on them to disclose the details of their experience, unless they choose to share this with their worker.
Vision, Mission & Values
Vision
Our vision is an end to violence, in all its forms, against women and girls
Mission
Scottish Borders Rape Crisis Centre (SBRCC) aims to relieve the distress of self-identifying females over the age of 18, and survivors of all gender/gender identity aged between 12 and 18, in the Scottish Borders area, who have experienced sexual violence and to support their friends, family and non-offending partners through the provision of emotional and practical support, information and advocacy. We also aim to promote the understanding of the causes and prevention of sexual violence and the mitigation of its effects.
Values
We consider that sexual violence is an abuse of power, not an expression of love or desire.
People who have experienced sexual abuse are survivors not victims.
We will treat everyone with respect and integrity. Equality and empowerment will underpin everything we do.
We will provide a safe, non-threatening environment where women and girls can talk freely and in confidence; we believe that an all-female organisation offers the most appropriate and secure support to women survivors.
Services will be based on what survivors tell us they need to support them, to enable them to take their own steps towards reclaiming control of their lives.
We will use our resources to provide the best possible service.
History
In 2008, Rape Crisis Scotland (RCS) applied to the Scottish Government for development funds to continue their national development programme. RCS identified the Scottish Borders as a priority area for development of a new rape crisis service and secured the funds up until 2011 to start and sustain this process. The main aim of SBRCC was to provide a support service for women and girls who had experienced sexual violence. SBRCC became an autonomous organisation, a company limited by guarantee with charitable status, directed by a board of trustees, in April 2010. This was achieved by working in close partnership with Rape Crisis Scotland, Scottish Borders Council and the many other local partners who gave strong support.
In 2020 SBRCC converted from a charitable company to a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO). The SCIO provides for a simpler legal form while sustaining SBRCC’s charitable status with all those obligations of the previous status.
