Women-Only Spaces

Our Approach to Women-Only Spaces

Background and Mission

The mission of Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC) is to improve the lives of people in Coventry impacted by sexual violence, enabling them to survive and thrive.

Established in 1980 as a feminist organisation, we recognise that sexual violence is both a cause and consequence of a patriarchal society where the majority of victims are women and girls, and the majority of perpetrators are men. We also acknowledge that sexual violence impacts everyone. We believe all survivors deserve to be treated with dignity and have an absolute right to access specialist, trauma-informed services.

Our Values: Respect and Pluralism

We recognise that terms like ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ carry different meanings for different people. As a client-centred organisation, our default position is to be kind and respectful of all worldviews.  

We aspire to pluralism: a position where we work together while respectfully holding different beliefs. This supports our trauma-informed commitment to ‘do no further harm’ and ensures that every survivor feels seen and respected.

Navigating Our Women-Only Spaces

Safety is essential for healing. To ensure every woman feels secure, we provide different types of specialist environments tailored to individual needs.

1. One-to-One Support (Counselling and Advocacy)
   Our core one-to-one services – including specialist advocacy (ISVA) and counselling – are open to all women, including trans women.
   – Your Privacy: You can access these services without needing to disclose your transition history in advance.
   – Our Commitment: We provide a safe, confidential space focused entirely on your individual recovery
   
2. Group Support and Peer Spaces
   We offer various group interventions designed to foster community and safety. These are organised as follows:
   – Single-Sex Spaces: We provide specific groups for female service users who require a space based on biological sex as part of their recovery from male-pattern violence.
   – Single-Gender Spaces: We provide spaces for all women – including trans women – to ensure every woman has access to a supportive environment.
   – Other Groups: We offer men’s groups and occasional mixed groups (such as for parents/carers). While we currently lack the numbers for dedicated trans-specific groups, we provide equivalent, high quality one-to-one specialist support to ensure no one is left without a pathway to healing.

How We Determine the Right Path for You

We want you to understand how our service works before you make contact, so you can feel in control of your journey.

• Initial Assessment: When you first join us, we will have a supportive conversation about your needs. We will explain the different options available and help you find the space – whether single-sex or gender-inclusive – where you feel most secure.
• Autonomy and Choice: We recognise that some survivors may be deterred if they feel their identity or sex is not being recognised. We work transparently to ensure our service is proportionate, helpful, and compliant with Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance.
• A Guarantee of Care: If a specific group is not the right fit, we guarantee you will receive an equivalent level of one-to-one specialist care. No survivor will be turned away without an alternative pathway to safety.

Our Ongoing Commitment

We regularly consult with our clients to ensure our spaces remain safe and inclusive. We record both sex and gender to better understand our community’s needs and to ensure our anti-oppressive practice remains client-centred and legally compliant.