News

The new accounting year for 2022/23 saw Hazlewoods employees take a new vote to decide on the next charity of the year. Among the four charities voted on was Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) which received the highest number of votes. 

GRASAC offers practical and emotional support, in complete confidence, for people who have experienced rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse at any point in their lives. GRASAC offers confidential face to face support and advocacy which is offered either on site at their centre, or at various outreach locations throughout Gloucestershire.

The charity was founded in 1984 and remains the only dedicated support organisation in the county. Sexual assault can bring on physical, emotional and behavioural changes. These feelings can affect you, your day-to-day life, and friends and family around you. GRASAC can support you in the following ways:

• Help you deal with the impact of what you have been through.
• Support you if the assault happened recently, or whether it happened many years ago.
• Support you if you were abused as a child or assaulted as an adult.
• Accessing support
• Support for women over 55
• Support for men

There are a number of misconceptions and myths surrounding rape and sexual assault, many of which can lead to survivors not wanting to come forward with their story. GRASAC have identified some common myths here.

‘On behalf of Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC), I am thrilled that staff at Hazlewoods have chosen GRASAC as their charity of the year. We support over 1,000 clients each year and any donations received from fundraising directly supports our clients. This can include providing materials for arts and craft groups and friendship groups, to providing comfortable surroundings for clients when accessing services or books to support client recovery. We cannot thank staff enough for their support and we look forward to meeting staff at fundraising events and welcoming them to the centre’. Maggie Stewart, CEO.

Hazlewoods is proud to be able to bring awareness to this exceedingly important charity for the coming year as well as raising money to allow them to continue providing much needed support to the county. If you would like to support our various teams in their fundraising efforts, click here.

Rape and sexual assault can have a life-long impact. It is never too late to get the support you deserve. GRASAC are here to help, if you need to please do get in touch at 01452 526770 or support@glosrasac.org.uk.