Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre we offer free and confidential emotional and practical support and information to women, all members of the transgender community, and young people aged 12-18 who have experienced sexual violence from male or female abusers at any time in their lives. This includes rape, sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse and organised sexual abuse and exploitation.
Support
We respect the courage and strength it takes to speak out about your experience whether it has been a recent assault or it happened a long time ago.
Our services are open to women, all members of the transgender community and young survivors aged 12 and over who have experienced any form of sexual violence, at any time in their lives by male or female abusers. We also provide support to family, friends and partners and agency workers who are in a supportive role.
All our support services are free and we offer appointments on weekdays and evenings. What you tell us remains confidential within our support team. We will not tell anyone that you have contacted us, unless you want us to. However there are some circumstances when we are required by law to share information – for further information please see our confidentiality page.
If English is not you your first language we can arrange for an interpreter. If you are deaf or hard of hearing we can provide support via email. We can also arrange for a British Sign Language or signed English interpreter. There are two steps to our building and we have a portable ramp to facilitate wheelchair access available by request.
Helpline support
Our helpline is covered by Rape Crisis Scotland’s National Helpline. For support or to make an appointment, or referral please call their National Helpline: 08088 010302 (every day, 6pm-midnight). It is free from landlines and most mobile providers. Please only leave a message on our support line if it is regarding an existing appointment. We check this each working day.
Face-to-face support
When you contact us we will offer you a face-to-face support session. You can use this time in any way you choose, and we can talk through what support we can offer. After this, if you would like long-term support, you can go on our waiting list.
Long-term support
Long-term support is 16 weekly or fortnightly, 50 minute support sessions, with the same support worker for survivors.
To help us minimise the waiting time for our long-term support service, we will temporarily close our long-term waiting list for brief periods if it reaches more than 20 survivors waiting. This is because we only have the resources and capacity to meet this level of need at any one time. Information about temporary closures to our waiting list will be updated on our Facebook page and website homepage.
Group support
Our support groups for survivors provide opportunities to meet with other survivors, and share experiences and support. They are usually for around 6-8 women and are survivor-led. They are facilitated by two support workers.
Advocacy
Our advocacy service includes accompanying you to health services or legal appointments, home-visits and contacting other agencies on your behalf.
Email support
We understand that some people have difficulty talking over the phone and it is common to feel uncomfortable speaking about your experience of sexual violence. You can access support via letter or email if that is better for you. Our dedicated support email is: support@ercc.scot
Helpline and appointments
Our helpline is covered by Rape Crisis Scotland’s National Helpline. For support, information or to make an appointment for Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre please call their National Helpline. It’s open every evening, 6pm – midnight on freephone 08088 010302. It’s free from landlines and most mobile providers.
Calls to our support service (0131 556 9437) won’t be answered and messages won’t be responded to. Please only leave a message if you’re calling about an existing appointment. We check this each working day.
Business 0131 557 6737
Address 1 Leopold Place, Edinburgh EH7 5JW
Email info@ercc.scot (business) support@ercc.scot (email support)