About Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland
We are a specialist charity providing support for people affected by sexual violence.
Our charitable purpose is to provide services primarily for women and girls aged 13+ who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives.
We are currently accepting referrals for:
- Our women-only services
- Our services for trans women with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment
The most appropriate service will be determined according to individual circumstances, the needs of the survivor, and the eligibility criteria for each service.
You can use our services if you live, work or study in Northumberland or Tyne & Wear; Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
How we provide our services
Following the UK Supreme Court judgment and the publication of the draft Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Code of Practice, we have reviewed how we deliver our services to ensure that we continue to operate within the current legal framework while remaining true to our values as a specialist, survivor-centred organisation.
We recognise that these legal developments have created uncertainty and concern for many people.
Our priority remains ensuring that everyone who contacts us is treated with dignity, compassion and respect.
Our approach is designed to:
- Provide specialist women-only services where these are appropriate and lawful;
- Provide separate support pathways for trans women with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment;
- Meet our legal responsibilities while remaining committed to compassionate, trauma-informed and survivor-centred support.
We recognise that every survivor’s circumstances are different. Where we are unable to provide support directly, we will always seek to help people access an appropriate alternative service wherever possible.
We will continue to keep our service model under review as legislation, statutory guidance and case law develop.
Support for Men
If you identify as a man and are looking for specialist support following sexual violence, the following organisations may be able to help:
