CARA was formerly Colchester Rape Crisis Line (CRCL) and continues the work that began when CRCL became a  registered charity in 1989.  As an organisational member of BACP we are bound by its Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy and subject to the professional conduct procedure therein.

We are members of:

	Survivors' Trust
	British Association for the Study & Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect
	Telephone Helplines Association
	Colchester & Tendring Domestic Violence Fora

Mission Statement
CARA believes that sexual violence is completely unacceptable.  We support those who have been affected and raise awareness in the wider community of the consequences of sexual abuse, assault and rape

The history of our Services
The organisation has always relied on its volunteers – for most of it’s history there were no full-time paid staff.  CRCL worked from one room and begged meeting and training rooms from other organisations, often meaning that venues were not confirmed until the last minute.  We operated with an annual income of around £5000.  At the end of 2000, the part-time co-ordinator managed to find and secure the premises that we now occupy.  We moved in during Spring 2001 and this signalled a real change in the organisation, enabling us to manage all our requirements under one roof. Furniture was donated by volunteers and local organisations.

The first full-time member of staff was employed on a temporary basis in January 2002.  During the first 3 months she managed to secure funding to continue her position and went from strength to strength, organising the office and making increasingly successful funding bids with input from the treasurer and other members of the organisation.  We have since been able to secure fixed term funding for two more paid positions, on part-time Child & Family Practitioner, and one full-time Young Person's Practitioner.

In June 2008 CRCL became CARA

CARA currently consists of: a management committee, all of whom are volunteers, overseeing the business side of the organisation & being responsible for employing and managing the paid staff; a team of volunteer counsellors, trained and supervised by the organisation and 3 paid staff, each working within a prescribed job description to ensure increased access to the services provided by CARA in the local community. This year we have an income of around £90,000.

CARA has gained increased respect with other organisations in the area, both statutory and voluntary, who acknowledge our wealth of experience in the areas of childhood sexual abuse, self-harm, sexual violence, and mental health. 

We now offer training in these areas of expertise to other professionals.

The CARA website went on-line in June 2008 replacing the the Colchester Rape Crisis Line website which had been running since 2002. CARA provides a resource for anyone requiring help and advice on issues surrounding sexual violence.  The site provides two fora for service users to encourage them to offer help and support to each other. In 2002 the website won an award from the Telephone Helplines Association for ‘Increasing access to callers from Minority, Disabled and Disadvantaged groups’.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the staff and volunteers involved in CARA the organisation continues to go from strength to strength. Funding applications continue to be submitted and we are now looking towards finding new premises, as we have outgrown the ones we have, researching the feasibility of setting up a safe-house for service users, employing more staff….. the list goes on and on.

CARA (CRCL) was awarded the ‘Queens Golden Jubilee Award for voluntary service by groups in the community’.  We feel extremely honoured to see the work of our organisation being recognized in this way.

CARA (CRCL) won a Guardian Charity Award in 2007. To read more and watch a video presentation click Guardian Charity Award

How can we help ?

	Face to Face counselling
	Advocacy
	Outreach support
	Information about pregnancy tests, contraception and sexual health generally
	Support in giving a statement if you choose to report what has happened to the police
	Support through legal and medical processes
	Transport to a safe place
	Information about financial compensation
	Welfare rights and housing advice
	Details of other agencies that may be able to help you

Raising Awareness
The Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse is committed to raising public awareness of issues surrounding sexual violence.

Our Counsellors are trained to help you deal with:

Rape

	Childhood Sexual Abuse
	Ritual Abuse
	Flashbacks
	Self-harm
	Eating Disorders
	Drug and Alcohol Abuse
	Rape and the Law