A year on, and rape charity has helped more than 200 sex assault survivors

Wednesday 27 January 2016

More than 200 people have been helped by a sexual assault support charity set up a year ago today by a rape survivor using the court payout she won from her attacker.

Cassidy McIntosh (28) waived her legal right to anonymity after she became the first person to take a civil action for rape to the Jersey courts.

Her attacker settled the case, paying her £150,000 in damages and legal costs – with the money, she set up Jersey Action Against Rape to support sexual assault survivors and campaign for greater awareness of sexual assault issues.

Today marks the charity’s first anniversary, and they say that in the last year they have received over 200 calls and have had 57 clients using a counselling service provided by 60 volunteers who have been trained by UK experts, and who run a phoneline.

You can reach Jersey Action Against Rape here.

In a statement, Sara McIntosh – Cassidy’s mother – said that they felt that JAAR was making a real difference to the Islanders who have been through the trauma of a sexual crime.

She said: “Looking to the future, JAAR continues to strive toward the education of the general public with the firm belief that it is through this education that the number of instances of sexual assault may be reduced.

“Experts from the UK came to Jersey in 2015 to train the counsellors and phone line volunteers as well as holding a very successful seminar in June.”

To celebrate their anniversary and raise more much-needed funds, JAAR are holding a gala ball at the Pomme d’Or Hotel on Saturday 19 March.

Tickets are available from the JAAR office on 482801 or by email.