INFORMATION
What is an ISVA/CISVA
Our Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVA) receive specialist training enabling them to provide independent advice and advocacy around all aspects of the criminal justice process, including what you can expect should you decide to report your experiences to the police and what happens next.
Our Children’s ISVA (CISVA) deliver specialist ISVA support to children and young people.
If you choose to report your experience to the police, your C/ISVA is able to provide support to you for the duration of your involvement with the criminal justice process, including support with trial.
Our team are independent of any statutory agencies (such as the police, social care and the Courts) and are here to answer your questions, provide emotional and practical support and to advocate on your behalf, ensuring that your voice is heard.
The ISVA can:
- Give you emotional support and help you develop ways of coping.
- Help you to put together a support network (a group of people or organisations that can give you help and support) in a way that works best for you.
- Help you to understand what choices you have about reporting your incident to the Police.
- Help you get other practical and specialist support when the time is right for you e.g. benefits advice or housing, counselling, mental health, sexual health, substance and alcohol misuse.
- Help you communicate with the Police and keep you informed about the case.
- Give you information and support around the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and make sure you get the services you are entitled to by liaising with the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
- Offer support to you around the trial.