JAAR

Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) supports survivors of sexual violence. The charity is comprised of a team of highly qualified professionals who give survivors an opportunity to go on a healing journey while also performing outreach work to try to stop abuse before it ever begins.

“It’s incredible to see the transformations of the individuals who engage with our services. We don’t just support the survivors but often their friends and family too, especially parents whose children may have experienced sexual violence and need their own space for healing,” explains JAAR CEO, Tracey Le Brocq. “You can really see that people have shed an emotional weight, gaining new coping mechanisms which set them up to support them for the rest of their lives.”

In 2024, Lloyds Bank Foundation awarded £45,000 to JAAR which will help fund up to 10 survivor journeys. Following initial contact, this typically involves a first appointment and risk assessment to ensure that JAAR is the best organisation to support the individual. The charity works hard to keep waitlists low, with survivors typically waiting two to three months to begin their journey; often much less time compared to similar services provided nationally.

Generally, survivors meet with their counsellor once a week for a total of 12 weeks, but survivor journeys are completely adaptable to the individual’s needs. Survivors can meet in a discrete office location or a local community space, where facilities can help to make people more comfortable and often suits those with families or young children.

Alongside counselling, survivors receive a toolkit which includes a journal, fidget tools, sleep spray, a mindfulness colouring book, information and other resources. “The idea is to equip survivors with both the physical and mental tools to help them on their journey,” Tracey says. Last year, JAAR supported 85 individuals, and they have seen a rise in people accessing their services. “It can’t be understated how important it is to work with survivors to help them heal from trauma.”

“There is a perception that sexual violence doesn’t happen here in Jersey, that we’re somehow safe from it. Research we’ve completed suggests that, per capita, sexual violence is a bigger problem in Jersey than it is in England and Wales.”

Alongside supporting survivors, JAAR works within the community to help with prevention and to dispel common myths around sexual violence. “We still see a lot of victim blaming and lots of shame attached to the survivor, which should only ever belong to the perpetrator. There are a lot of misunderstandings when it comes to sexual violence, what it looks like, who is a survivor and who is a perpetrator. We’re working with the government, lawmakers and our local communities to try to change that.

“Looking forward, we intend to broaden our education work from focusing on young people to including everyone. Support from the Foundation means we can not only help survivors, but prevent abuse from happening in the first place.”