Rape Crisis Surrey and Sussex (RCSAS) (in the UK) was shut down without warning on 1st July 2020. Clients/service users did not receive any prior notice about this closure. RCSAS was providing support to more than 200* girls, women and non binary people who have experienced sexual violence (in any form and at any point in their lives). They offered long-term, specialist, face-to-face counselling, specialist support for those surviving/affected by FGM, support groups for BAME girls/women/survivors, an outreach service for marginalised women/survivors, advocacy support through the criminal justice system (ISVAs), as well as training for professionals and workshops in schools.

The Board of Directors at RCSAS are responsible for closing the centre. Clients (as of 9th August 2020) have still not heard anything directly about why the board of directors made this decision. The only information that was available online up until Thursday 9th July 2020 was on an Instagram post that one of the other UK Rape Crisis centres posted, stating that RCSAS had closed indefinitely. It's possible that some of the clients have not even received the news yet.

This is NOT acceptable. We want answers and we want the Board of Directors for RCSAS to take responsibility and accountability for their actions. It is unacceptable to abandon these clients, not to mention that we have no information (as of 9th August 2020) as to why the centre suddenly shut down. 

Please sign this so that we can find out why our service was shut down and to hold the Board of Directors accountable. They have done this during a time of global uprising for BLM as well as during a global pandemic and whilst there are multiple sexual abuse allegations surfacing in the media (which in itself is extremely triggering for the clients). Black women/non binary people - especially those who are LGBTQIA+, disabled, neurodivergent, and/or sex workers will be the hardest hit from this closure, and this is terrifying to think that they have now lost a potential lifeline for their emotional and mental well-being.

Please stand with us. Thank you!  

(*I don't have the exact number of people (at present) but I will update this as and when I receive the data)

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***UPDATE*** 28th July 2020 -

If you are able to, please write to the Board Members/Directors of RCSAS. Here is an email/letter template which you could use- 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LX5QPCYhQWjbXgnwIUzCJhFBtjI2r0LQYVujs2mcdyc/edit?usp=sharing

There are a few options for writing to them (all the info is in the document). You can copy and paste the text, but please amend it/personalise it wherever you can =) Also you might have details which I don't have, in which case, change it wherever you need to.

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***UPDATE*** 17th July 2020 -

There is now an email template for people if they can / want to send an email to their MPs. The more we can send the better obviously. But I understand that everyone's energy levels are different and some may not be able to. But *if you can* that would be amazing!! And share the link for the email template around please!! 

Here is the link - 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MKHtsiEltQx0dZPdaHAfD4bpAiae-Klf1MWlihIjG80/edit?usp=sharing

**make sure to include your name and full address so that the MP can see you are in their constituency**