What is the STAR Project?

Rape and Sexual Assault can be a frightening experience and many people can find it difficult to cope.

The STAR Project provides support for females and males, aged 14 and over, throughout West Yorkshire who have been raped or seriously sexually assaulted.

The project staff will be happy to support you and help you make decisions about who else you might want to inform. The service is available whether or not you decide to report the incident to the police.

We aim to provide a safe and supportive environment to enable you to talk openly and freely. Contact with the project is completely voluntary.

How do I contact the Project?

There are three ways in which you can make contact with the project

You can telephone our Helpline direct and ask for support.

You can ask someone else to telephone the Helpline for you (e.g. partner/relative, friend, parent, GP etc).

If you have made a report to the police, they will contact the project on your behalf. The Project staff will then make contact with you by phone or letter.

What happens then?

The project staff will be happy to talk to you on the phone and offer support.

If you then wish, we can arrange for an Initial Support Worker to visit you at home (or other location convenient to you) to provide emotional and practical support for a six week period.

We can also arrange for you to receive professional counselling, at a time and place convenient to you. Counsellors can offer an Introductory session followed by 6-10 sessions of counselling. You may take someone in with you to the Introductory session.

What Information do you need?

If you, or someone on your behalf, telephones us direct, we will need basic information about you - such as your name, age, a contact address or telephone number and (briefly) details of what has happened to you. If you are under 17, it is preferable to us if a responsible adult (e.g. youth worker, teacher, family member etc.) knows that you are receiving support from the project. However, if you feel this is particularly difficult, we would always try to be flexible.

If you have made a report to the police, they will have already sent us this information.

Where is the Project based?

The Project offices are in Wakefield but we can provide a service throughout West Yorkshire.

Our Initial Support Workers will meet with you either at home or somewhere else convenient to you. Our counsellors work from various premises throughout West Yorkshire so we should always be able to find somewhere you can get to easily.

If you have particular problems with transport, tell us and we may be able to help.

Will it cost me anything?

No. The STAR Project pays for all the support that is offered to you.

Does the project only support women?

The STAR Project supports both females and males who have been raped or sexually assaulted.

Can you help children as well?

The STAR Project is designed to support young people and adults who have been recently raped or sexually assaulted. The project is not designed to support young people under the age of 14 years, or adults who were abused as children.

Will it be confidential?

Anything you say to an Initial Support Worker or Counsellor will be treated sensitively and confidentially. However, if what you say suggests that you, or a young person, is at risk of serious harm, the project would have to pass this information on. However, we would always try to talk to you about this first.

What happens if I choose not to report the incident to the police?

As an adult, you will be put under no pressure to report the incident to the police and the project will still be happy to offer a full support service, including counselling and victim support. We will always try to support young people in their decisions. However, as stated in our confidentiality policy, if we believe you, or another young person is at risk, we would have to pass the information on. Again, we would always try to talk to you about this first.

What happens if I decide to report the incident to the police?

You will be seen by a specially trained officer who has experience in dealing with people who have been raped or sexually assaulted. To assist the investigation, you may be asked to undergo a medical examination.

The STAR Project also offers a case tracking service, in conjunction with the police, to ensure you are kept fully informed of the progress of your case.