Advocacy is not counselling, or therapeutic support. For more information about our Counselling Service please click here here. 

Our team of Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs) offer a specialist service to victims and survivors of sexual violence who have reported to the police. Our ISVAs will support you throughout your journey through the criminal justice process, for as long as it lasts, including providing support at Court.

If you have not reported to the police, but are considering doing so, our ISVAs can provide you with information about the legal process, and your options, so that you can make an informed choice which is right for you.

Our ISVAs are independent of the police, social services, and other statutory agencies.

Our ISVAs can:

• Provide a free, and flexible, support service, tailored to your needs – appointments can be held in our office in Leeds City Centre, online, or over the phone;
• Provide you with the information you need to help you to decide if you want to make a report to the police, and respect your choice;
• Support you through the criminal justice process, including supporting you to give evidence at Court if there is a trial;
• With your consent, liaise with the police and other criminal justice agencies on your behalf, ensuring that your voice is heard;
• Provide information about your rights under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime;
• Help you to access other support services if you need them.

At SARSVL we have ISVAs who support women aged 18 and over, and a specialist Young Person’s ISVA who supports young people between 13 – 17.

YOUNG PERSON’S ISVA SERVICE (for young people aged between 13 – 17) For more information about the role of the Young Person’s ISVA, and to make a referral to the Young Person’s ISVA Service, please click Please click here.

REFERRAL TO ADULT ISVA SERVICE (women aged 18 and over) To refer yourself, please click here.  To refer someone you are working with, please click here.

Our ISVA Service accepts self-referrals, and referrals from other agencies or organisations. If you have any questions about our ISVA Service, or the referral process, please contact us by email (advocacy@sarsvl.org.uk) or call 0113 243 9102

Other Advocacy Service providers in Leeds:

• Victim Support – Service provision across West Yorkshire (all ages & genders) https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/west-yorkshire/help-after-sexual-violence-west-yorkshire/
• Basis (females aged 18 + who are currently sex working, or have done in the past) https://basisyorkshire.org.uk/sex-work-project/isva-services/
• Shantona (females aged 13 – 25 from culturally diverse backgrounds) https://www.shantona.co.uk/view/independent-sexual-violence-advice-and-support–isva-

You can find resources about the criminal justice process on the “Rights of Women” website: https://rightsofwomen.org.uk/get-information/criminal-law/