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Vision, mission and values

Our Vision

A society where everybody is free to live without the threat of sexual violence

Our Mission and Values

Our mission is to be the centre of excellence in Ayrshire providing first class sexual violence and prevention education whilst supporting anybody who has experienced any type of sexual violence at any time.

We will do this in a way that is consistent with our core values:

Compassionate

  • Empathetic and understanding: We recognise the trauma survivors have experienced and providing support without judgment.
  • Patient and supportive: we provide survivors with the time and space they need to heal, and offer a safe and confidential space to share their experiences.

Inclusive

  • Welcoming and supportive. We want The STAR Centre to reflect the population of Ayrshire and seek to support black and minoritised communities, people with disabilities, people of all ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, women involved with selling/exchanging sex and rural and remote communities including our island communities on Arran and Cumbrea.
  • Cultural sensitivity: we recognise and respect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of survivors.
  • As an organisation we are trans-inclusive, and pro-choice

Ethical

  • Trauma-informed approach: All staff are trained in understanding the impact of trauma and how it can affect survivors, so they can provide appropriate support.
  • Maintaining confidentiality: we maintain the highest standards of confidentiality to protect survivors’ privacy and safety.
  • Avoiding harmful practices: we will never engage in practices that could re-traumatise survivors
  • Reflective: we recognise that learning as an organisation is an on-going process and welcome challenge and feedback from all staff and stakeholders.

Survivor-focused

  • Empowering survivors: We recognise that survivors are the experts in their own lives and provide them with resources and support they need to make their own choices about their healing and recovery.
  • Listening to survivors’ voices: we listen to survivors’ experiences and perspectives, and ensure they are involved in the development of services.
  • Awareness: we are working to embed an intersectional approach, recognising the compounding inequalities and discrimination that survivors and our staff may experience and seeking to reflect this in our service provision and broader work.
  • Please note we are a charity for survivors only. If you have been accused of, or charged with, any crime of gender-based or sexual violence we will not be able to support you. If you disclose, or we become aware through any other means, that you have been accused of, or charged with, a crime of gender-based or sexual violence your support with the STAR Centre will be stopped

Feminist

  • Challenging patriarchy: We believe that sexual violence is a cause and consequence of women's unequal status in a patriarchal society.
  • Women-only spaces: We provide women-only services and space for women’s voices to be heard (whilst being proud to support other gender identities).
  • Challenging systems: We work to challenge attitudes, beliefs and systems that normalise and perpetuate rape culture and sexual violence

Support us

Every pound donated goes directly to supporting people who have experienced sexual violence.

Donate here

Instagram @thestarcentre

This #TransAwarenessWeek we've created a series of infographics which explain some key terms related to gender, so we can all have a better understanding of the diverse experiences within the trans+ community💖 

Transphobia means: Discriminatory or prejudiced actions or ideas related to someone’s actual or perceived gender identity or gender expression or erasure of trans identities.

Credit to @EqualityNetwork  for their fantastic LGBTI glossary (link in bio)
This #TransAwarenessWeek we've created a series of infographics which explain some key terms related to gender, so we can all have a better understanding of the diverse experiences within the trans+ community💖 

Gender expression describes the external characteristics and behaviours that are typically socially defined as masculine, feminine, or somewhere in between, such as clothing, hairstyle, make-up, mannerisms, speech patterns and social interactions.

Credit to @EqualityNetwork  for their fantastic LGBTI glossary (link in bio)
One week to go until #ReclaimTheNight ! Stay tuned to learn more about the history of the march and why it is still important to us today #EndGBV #NoExcuse
Today is #InternationalMensDay ! At The STAR Centre we support anybody that has experienced sexual violence - this includes men and boys (13+). 

• Recent crime stats estimate that around a quarter of victims of ‘other sexual crime’ (such as indecent exposure, making someone watch pornography, online sexual abuse) are male.
• Around 6% of victims of rape and attempted rape, and around 13% of victims of sexual assault are male. 2% of men in Scotland have been raped
• Many men never report what has happened to the police (fewer than one in five) so recorded crimes are only a small percentage of actual occurrence rates.
Source: @rapecrisisscot 
The vast majority (90-95%) of perpetrators of sexual violence (regardless of the gender of the survivor) identify as male and as straight. 
If you are a man who has experienced sexual violence, it has happened because of who the abuser is, not who you are. It is an act of violence, and was not your fault

You can get support and further information from us at The STAR Centre by calling 01563 544686 or by visiting our website (Link In Bio)
This #TransAwarenessWeek we've created a series of infographics which explain some key terms related to gender, so we can all have a better understanding of the diverse experiences within the trans+ community💖 

A person's gender identity refers to their internal sense of who they are, and how they see themself in regards to being a man, a woman, or somewhere in between/beyond these identities. 

Credit to @EqualityNetwork  for their fantastic LGBTI glossary (linked in our bio)
This #TransAwarenessWeek we've created a series of infographics which explain some key terms related to gender, so we can all have a better understanding of the diverse experiences within the trans+ community💖 

The
This #TransAwarenessWeek we've created a series of infographics which explain some key terms related to gender, so we can all have a better understanding of the diverse experiences within the trans+ community💖 

Non-Binary is used to refer to those that identify as either having a gender which is in-between or beyond the two categories ‘man’ and ‘woman’, as fluctuating between ‘man’ and ‘woman’, or as having no gender, either permanently or some of the time.

Credit to @EqualityNetwork  for their fantastic LGBTI glossary (Link in Bio)
This #TransAwarenessWeek we've created a series of infographics which explain some key terms related to gender, so we can all have a better understanding of the diverse experiences within the trans+ community💖 

Cis or Cisgender refers to a person who identifies with the sex they were assigned at birth. Cisgender is the word for anyone who is not transgender.

Credit to @EqualityNetwork  for their fantastic LGBTI glossary which you can access through the link in our bio!
This #TransAwarenessWeek we've created a series of infographics which explain some key terms related to gender, so we can all have a better understanding of the diverse experiences within the trans+ community💖 

Trans or Transgender is an inclusive umbrella term for anyone whose gender identity or gender expression does not fully correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Credit to @lgbtiscotland for their fantastic LGBTI glossary which can be found on the link in our bio for anyone that wants to know more!
🌈✨ Trans Awareness Week ✨🌈

Trans awareness week runs from the 13th-20th of November. 💖

At the STAR Centre, we offer free and confidential support to anyone who has experienced any type of sexual violence, at any time in their lives. This includes trans+ survivors of sexual violence, who deserve compassionate care and a safe space to heal. 🌟

#TransAwarenessWeek  #SupportSurvivors #EndSexualViolence
Has your school signed up to @rapecrisisscot 's ESAS programme? Swipe to find out more about what it is and how you can get involved !
🌙✨ Reclaim the Night 2024, November 26th 2024✊

This #16DaysOfActivism Join us for a powerful march to raise our voices against gender-based violence, harassment, and all forms of oppression. The night belongs to us all! 🌙 

**Event details**: 
📅 Date: 26/11/24
⏰ Time: 5.30pm 
📍 Location: Leaving from Tesco Extra’s Car Park, W. Shaw St. Kilmarnock, KA1 4BS. Teas & coffees available @ WG13 afterwards.
Bring your energy, your signs, and your friends! The more voices, the stronger the message. Together, we can create change. 🌟

Let’s make some noise! 🔊

#ReclaimTheNight #EndGenderBasedViolence #SafeNightsForAll #Solidarity #MarchForChange
Mark it in your calendars! From November 25th to December 10th organisations across the world will be taking part in #16DaysOfActivism against gender-based violence. Visit our website to see what The STAR Centre is doing to take action against gender-based violence: https://www.starcentreayrshire.org/16-days/
[TW: responses to sexual violence] For this month's #MythBustingMonday we're looking at the myth that people scream, run or fight back when faced with sexual violence. 

It’s really common for people who experience sexual violence to “freeze” in the moment. This does not mean that they consented, or that what happened was
Are you interested in Volunteering? Do you want to get involved in the fight against Sexual Violence in Ayrshire? Do you want to help us support survivors of sexual violence?

Register your interest in volunteering with us at The STAR Centre here: https://www.starcentreayrshire.org/volunteer/ and we'll be in touch with what we can do!
🎃 Costumes are NOT Consent 👻

If you're are heading out to celebrate Halloween this year remember: no matter how spooky, scary, or bold the costume, always respect boundaries. Halloween should be fun for everyone - let's keep it that way by asking for consent and respecting personal boundaries. 💜

#CostumesAreNOTConsent #BoundariesAreBOOtiful #AnyBodyAnyTypeAnyTime
Today we were so excited to get our first donation from thebeautybanks with sanitary products, toothbrushes, deodorant, moisturiser & other beauty products! 💜

Beauty Banks receive surplus products from the beauty industry’s supply chain, donations from corporate brand partners, small businesses and members of the public. The products are then redistributed to frontline charities and community groups. You don’t need to be a charity to receive products.

A great charity which is going to be a great help for our service users going forward, we are very grateful 💜
Keep an eye out for our badges at stalls over #16daysofaction this November/December! 
Which one will you be picking up?
Please help us improve our garden space for survivors of sexual violence!

If you are a @coopuk member, you can support The STAR Centre by choosing us as your local cause! Find out more and sign up in the link in our bio!
Seeking out support when you need it is an act of self-care. The Rape Crisis Scotland helpline is here if you need to talk, from 5pm - midnight, every night.
 ☎️ 08088 01 03 02 
 📲 07537 410 027 [our text number will show on your bill] 
📧 support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk 
 💻 www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk [webchat]
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