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Celebrate Helpline Awareness Day by learning about our Emotional Support Line
RSACC’s Emotional Support Line was introduced the year the centre opened (back in 1990) to provide survivors of sexual violence, as well as their family and friends, with constant anonymous support.
Open six days per week, the service is provided by a team of volunteers; all women based in Darlington or County Durham who have undertaken extensive specialist training so that they can provide the best support possible.
Kate Larkin, Support, Prevention & Volunteering Manager at RSACC, explained: “We are always pleased when a survivor takes the brave step of reaching out, and we’re humbled to be able to provide that support when it’s needed.”
All Helpline volunteers are passionate about supporting survivors of sexual violence and range in age from 20s – 70s.
Kate explained: “As with our staff team, some volunteers have their own experience of sexual violence while others don’t, but they all have a good understanding of the range of sexual violence that people experience, the impact that it can have, and the importance of survivors being able to access specialist, non-judgemental support.”
Throughout 2024, RSACC’s Line received 222 callers.
“People call for all sorts of reasons,” explained Kate, “but essentially they want to talk about how they’re feeling, to someone who will listen non-judgementally. A lot of people who call us feel very alone or isolated, or may feel overwhelmed. Some people call to talk through something specific like struggling with panic attacks or nightmares, others want to talk about what happened to them, while others will simply talk about how they’re feeling.
“On answering each call, we begin by thanking the individual for calling before asking questions such as: ‘How are you are doing just now?’ ‘What would you like to talk about today?’ or ‘How would you like to use the time we have?’
“We understand that it can be difficult to know where to start or what to say – so we give people space, let them know there’s no rush and that they can share as much or as little as they like.”
All calls go through a special screening process so are completely anonymous, and can last for up to one hour.
Kate added: “We can’t see any phone numbers and only know how much the caller chooses to tell us.
“Our hope is for all callers to feel less alone and that they are understood and supported. We want them to know they are cared for and that their feelings have been validated.
“We are proud to be able to offer this service and are grateful to be in a position to help. We hope many more people who need support in future will think to call us.”
RSACC’s Emotional Line is open at the following times every week:
Monday and Tuesday: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Wednesday and Thursday: 10.00am – 12pm & 6.30 – 8.30pm
Friday: 2 – 4pm
Saturday: 10am – 12pm
To speak to someone, call 0300 222 5730.
Other useful Helplines:
- The Rape Crisis England & Wales (RCEW) telephone support line is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call free on 0808 500 2222.
- HopelineUK offers confidential support and practical advice for those having suicidal thoughts or for someone concerned about a young person who might be. Call 0800 068 4141.
- The National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline is available 24 hours. Call 0808 2000 247.