Latest press releases
Please contact Charlotte Batra on 07932 919573 for all media enquiries
May 2013
The work of the St Mary’s Centre is to be the focus of a one-hour documentary to be broadcast on BBC1 on June 4th at 10.35pm. Make sure you tune in.
Comparing Sexual Assault Interventions (COSAI): Fostering good practice in servies for women in Europe summary report now published
St Mary’s SARC to be the focus of a one hour documentary on BBC One
Gold Star productions have been commissioned to produced a one off documentary for BBC One which documents the work of our dedicated team of doctors, crisis workers and counsellors. It will take a look at the services available at the Centre which are shown through personal stories of two women who have been raped.
The documentary will be broadcast later this year.
February 2013
Conference highlights sexual violence in the context of domestic abuse
The theme of the St Mary’s Centre 11th Annual Conference which took place at Manchester Town Hall on Thursday February 28 and Friday March 1 2013 was sexual violence in the context of domestic abuse. More than 200 delegates attended the conference to listen to a range of speakers that included:
• The Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer QC
• Diana Barran, Chief Executive of CAADA
• Ann Coffey MP for Stockport
• Vanita Parekh, Unit Director Clinical Forensic Medical Services ACT Austrailia
August 2012
St Mary’s involvement in the Coronation Street rape storyline has led to a rape victim coming forward and successfully prosecuting his attacker.
St Mary’s SARC is one of nine organisations to have successfully bid for a share of £1.2m funding from the Home Office to support young people suffering sexual violence, including by gangs.
At total of 13 new young people advocates will be recruited across the UK and each post will be awarded a grant of £30k per year for three years. St Mary’s has been awarded funding for one of those posts.
The £1.2m fund was announced as part of the ending gang and youth violence plan published on 1 November 2011.
March 2012
New Cheshire service for victims of rape and sexual assault
A new specialist and comprehensive service providing high quality care for victims of rape and sexual assault is now available to children, young people and adults living in the Cheshire area.
Established in 2011 for police referrals, the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for Cheshire is being delivered by the St Mary’s SARC in Manchester together with Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC). St Mary’s SARC will provide forensic examinations for adults and children of all ages while RASASC will provide aftercare services for those aged 13 and over including counselling, support and access to an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) who provides support through the criminal justice system. Aftercare services for the under 13s will be provided by St Mary’s SARC. The service is now open for self-referrals.
read more
Left to right: Moira Chapman, Cheshire Police Authority, Helen Ward, RASASC, Susan Forster, SARC Commissioning Group, Bernie Ryan, St Mary’s Centre Manager, Dave Whatton, Chief Constable Cheshire Constabulary.
February 2012
Conference highlights sexual exploitation and how best to protect the vulnerable
Understanding the complexities and challenges of how to best protect vulnerable people from sexual exploitation was the theme of the St Mary’s Centre 10th Annual Conference which took place at Manchester Town Hall on Thursday February 23 and Friday February 24 2012.
Among the keynote speakers were:
• Children’s Minister, Tim Loughton MP
• Anne Marie Carrie, Chief Executive of Barnardo’s
• Sue Jago, author of the report, ‘What’s going on to safeguard children and young people from sexual exploitation’.
• Sheila Taylor, the National Working Group on Sexual Exploitation
More than 150 delegates from a range of professions including police officer, healthcare and the voluntary sector took part in the conference to debate key areas around sexual exploitation.
November 2011
St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) celebrated its 25 year anniversary and relocation to new accommodation.
St Mary’s SARC provides a comprehensive service to victims of rape and sexual abuse living in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire area. Over the past year, more than 1,000 people have used the service with just under half of these being children. The Centre’s new accommodation now boasts three examination suites, each tailored to meet the needs of adults and children.
Helping to mark the Centre’s new accommodation and 25th Anniversary will be the installation of an innovative art project designed specifically for young children using the Centre. The ‘Luna’ will comprise a portable interactive projection onto the ceiling or wall of the Children’s forensic examination suite. The child client will have a stress ball to hold and manipulate which will control the movement of shapes, colours and activity of the light projection depending on how the ball is squeezed and moved.
The installation cost £8,000 and was funded entirely by Soroptimist International of Manchester. Soroptimist International is a worldwide organisation for women in management and the professions, who work through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women. The Manchester club was chartered in 1926 and celebrated 80 years of service in the city by fundraising for the St Mary’s Centre’s Children’s Service. Through their hard work and dedication they raised £12,000 that allowed the art project to come to life and helped in creating a suitable environment for children and adolescents.
November 1 2011
St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) response to Ending Gang and Youth Violence – A Cross-Government Report
St Mary’s Centre Manager and Chair of the National SARC Advisory Board, Bernie Ryan, welcomed the Government announcement of £1.2 m of additional funding over the next 3 years to improve services for young people under 18 suffering sexual violence in urban areas.
Commenting on the announcement, Bernie Ryan, said: “The additional £400,000 per year for the next 3 years will go some way to address the particular needs of children and young people who have experienced rape and sexual assault, including those involved with gangs.
“There are currently a small number of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) and other specialist sexual violence services which meet the specific needs of children and young people when they have suffered rape or sexual assault/abuse. At St Mary’s SARC we have a dedicated Children’s Service.
“We recognise that young children have very different needs from adolescents. This additional funding will go some way in gaining a greater perspective on the problem and assist in the implementation of services specifically designed to meet the needs of children and young people.”
Earlier this month, the Children’s Commissioner announced a two year inquiry into the extent of sexual exploitation in gangs and claimed that as many as 10,000 children could be sexually exploited in this way.
Bernie Ryan continued: “The Centre currently provides a service to more than a 1,000 men, women and children and just under a half of those are under 18.
“We welcome the opportunity to work together with government to address the issues to protect our children and young people, provide child specific services and engage in a sexual violence education and prevention programme.”
St Mary’s Centre is the UK’s first sexual assault referral centre and is a unique collaborative venture between Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust, Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Police Authority. Established in 1986 to provide a comprehensive and co-ordinated forensic, counselling and aftercare service to adults in Greater Manchester who have experienced rape or sexual assault (whether recently or in the past).
Contact Us
0161 276 6515
Our Services
- Crisis Support
- Forensic Medical Examination
- Access to Emergency Contraception
- Sexual Health Screening
- Counselling and Aftercare Support
- Independent Sexual Violence Advisor
- What happens if I make a report to the Police?
- What will happen when I come to the St Mary's Centre?
- What happens if I come to St Mary's Centre without making a report to the Police?
