News
Highlands rape and abuse support service wins influential UK health award
PRESS RELEASE
Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland (RASASH), a charity based in Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, has secured one of this year’s GSK IMPACT Awards, a prestigious honour for health and care charities in the UK awarded by global biopharma company GSK in partnership with The King’s Fund.
Recent figures from the Scottish Government reports that there were 14,892 sexual crimes recorded in Scotland in 2024/25 and figures from Police Scotland show that in the same period there were 2,897 reported or attempted rapes, representing a 60% increase from 2015/16. Sexual violence can have devasting and life-long consequences for survivors such as depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, eating disorders and substance misuse.
Formed in 2014, RASASH works to support people affected by rape and sexual abuse and prevent sexual violence. It is the only specialist rape and sexual abuse service in the Highlands, providing support to survivors of rape and sexual abuse who are aged 13 and over across an area where long travel times and poor transport links can make accessing help especially challenging.
Following a rigorous selection and assessment process, RASASH was chosen from a record number of award entries as one of the 10 winners of the 2026 GSK IMPACT Awards. Now in its 29th year, the awards are delivered in partnership with leading health and care charity The King’s Fund. Since its inception in 1997, more than 570 charities have received a GSK IMPACT Award. The awards are widely seen as a hallmark of excellence in the charity health sector and are designed to recognise outstanding small and medium-sized charities working to improve people’s health and wellbeing in the UK. Award winners will receive £40,000 in unrestricted funding, as well as a place on a highly coveted leadership development programme provided by The King’s Fund.
The award recognises the charity’s work providing trauma-informed support and advocacy for survivors navigating the justice system. The award judges were particularly struck by the charity’s outreach work in isolated communities and its focus on redesigning services to reduce waiting times and meet survivors’ needs quickly and safely. The charity supports those in need as well as working with local communities to prevent sexual abuse and violence.
Lisa Weaks, Senior Associate at The King’s Fund, said:
‘Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland (RASASH) provides a lifeline and specialist support to thousands of people living in the Scottish Highlands who have lived through horrific experiences. It delivers its services across some of the most remote parts of the UK, making sure people can get the help they need when they need it, whilst also working to prevent and eliminate sexual violence through education and outreach projects. It is truly deserving of this award.’
Commenting on the award, RASASH Chief Executive, Romy Rehfeld said:
‘Winning the GSK IMPACT Award is an extraordinary honour for our charity. It is a powerful recognition of our team’s dedication and the difference we are making across the Highlands. It also stands as a testament to the resilience of survivors, whose voices and courage drive our mission forward. The funding and training this award provide will make a meaningful and lasting difference to RASASH and the community we serve.’
The award comes at a time when charities are operating in a more difficult financial environment while demand for their services continues to grow.
RASASH provides free, confidential support and information to anyone affected by sexual violence across the Highlands. Alongside its frontline services, the charity delivers training and workshops in schools, youth groups and professional settings, helping to raise awareness of sexual violence and promote gender equality. Last year, its prevention work reached more than 3,400 people across 18 schools, alongside delivering the National Prevention Programme and Equally Safe interventions across the region.
RASASH’s latest figures highlight the barriers many survivors face in seeking help. Only 17% of people using the service reported the offence at the time, while 40% did not report their experiences at all. For those who do report, there is often a significant delay. In 2025, more than half of service users waited over two years before seeking support, often describing feelings of shame, fear and isolation. Many survivors also face ongoing health challenges, with 66% reporting high anxiety, 34% depression and 18% issues with drugs or alcohol. Nearly half of those referred to RASASH are also receiving support from mental health services.
RASASH plays a key role in local partnership work to tackle sexual violence, working closely with the Highland Violence Against Women Partnership, NHS Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Police Scotland and secondary schools across the Highlands.
ENDS
RASASH Reaffirms Support for Survivors Amid Rising Anti-Migrant Rhetoric
The Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland (RASASH) is concerned by some of the responses to the UK Government’s plans to house asylum seeking people at the Cameron Barracks in Inverness, namely the perception that migrants pose a greater risk to women and girls’ safety.
RASASH, which provides free and confidential support to survivors of sexual violence across Highland, is troubled by narratives that attempt to link the risk of sexual violence with people seeking asylum. In particular, the deliberate attempts of some groups to weaponise women and girls’ safety to justify hostility toward migrants.
This rhetoric not only spreads unfounded fear but also undermines genuine efforts to address violence against women and girls. It further reinforces the damaging myth that the greatest risk of gender-based violence comes from strangers, when evidence consistently shows otherwise. Key facts about sexual violence in the UK include:
- More than 90% of perpetrators of rape and sexual assault are known to their victims.
- One in two rapes against women are carried out by a partner or ex-partner.
- One in three adult survivors are raped in their own home.
(Figures from the National Office for Statistics, 2025)
“It is an uncomfortable reality that sexual violence is committed overwhelmingly by the men already in women’s and girls’ lives. The Highlands are unfortunately no exception,” states Eileen Stuart, RASASH Board Chair.
“We are aware that anti-migrant protests nationally have invoked concerns for women’s and girls’ safety based on the misguided belief that asylum seekers pose a greater risk. Sexual violence is rooted in misogyny, inequality, and power – not immigration status or nationality.”
RASASH unequivocally condemns all violence against women and girls and the profound harm it causes to individuals, families, and communities. We urge everyone to reject fear-mongering and misinformation that detract from meaningful efforts to end sexual violence. If we are serious about keeping women and girls safe, we must focus collectively on addressing the root causes of sexual violence: power, control, and inequality.
RASASH provides support to anyone aged 13+ affected by sexual violence—regardless of gender—as well as to non-abusing partners, friends, and family members. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, please contact our confidential support line.
Contact Information for Confidential Support?
Call us for support on 03330 066909
Text us on 07451 288080
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 1-5pm
Rape Crisis Scotland helpline 08088 010302
Daily 5pm-midnight?
Christmas and New Year closure
RASASH will be closing down for the festive period. We will be closing on the Friday 19th of December at 5pm and re-opening on the Monday 5th of January at 9.30am.
The advocacy and support line services will be closing earlier this year:
- Advocacy: closing for new referrals on the Tuesday 16th of December and re-opening on the Tuesday 6th of January.
- Support Line: closing on the Wednesday 17th of December at 5pm and re-opening on the Monday 5th of January at 1pm.
If you have pre-existing appointments, these will still take place as scheduled.
If you need support during the festive period, the Rape Crisis Scotland Helpline will be open from 5pm until midnight: Rape Crisis Scotland Helpline
Big Give Women and Girls Campaign is Live: Support Survivors Today
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We’re excited to share that RASASH’s Big Give Women and Girls fundraising campaign is now live! This is your chance to help us continue providing vital support to survivors of sexual violence in Highland, in particular to young women and girls in our community.
Around 32% of the survivors we worked with last year were aged 13-21, and over 80% of the survivors we support are women and girls. These statistics show how critical it is to offer specialised services like ours. It costs over £2,500 a day to operate our services, which we provide completely free to those who need them. And we rely on fundraising and donations to continue delivering our lifechanging work.
Your donation will go directly toward helping survivors reclaim their lives and feel empowered again.
Here’s how your support can make a real difference:
- £50 could keep our support line staffed, providing crucial responses to calls, texts, and emails.
- £75 could fund a prevention session for young people across Highland, helping to stop sexual violence before it happens.
- £100 could go towards an outreach support session, bringing life-changing services to survivors in rural areas.
Thanks to match funding through the Big Give, every pound you donate will be doubled! Together, we can ensure that survivors receive the support they need.
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- Donate Now – Visit our Big Give campaign page here to make a donation.
- Spread the Word – Share the campaign link with your network and encourage others to get involved.
- Get Involved – Want to do more? Host your own fundraiser or visit this page for more ways to support.
Your support is vital in helping survivors move forward. Together, we can make a lasting impact!
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RASASH Welcomes Award-Winning Journalist Iona M.J. MacDonald as Charity Ambassador
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As part of International Women's Day, we're proud to announce the appointment of award-winning teenage journalist Iona M.J. MacDonald as our newest Charity Ambassador. Iona’s advocacy and dedication to raising awareness of gender-based violence make her a perfect fit for our organisation's mission to support survivors and combat sexual violence.
In her role as Charity Ambassador, Iona will work closely with RASASH to amplify our message, promote our services, and advocate for the rights of survivors. Through her platform and influence, Iona aims to challenge stereotypes surrounding survivors of gender-based violence and empower others to speak out against abuse.
Reflecting on her appointment, Iona expressed her excitement to contribute to RASASH's life-changing work.
"There was a time where I never thought I would gain the freedom to have my name or picture anywhere public, without putting myself and my loved ones in danger. So now, it fills me with fierce pride to say I'm the new Charity Ambassador for RASASH - a lifeline charity helping people who are enduring circumstances similar to my own past experience of gender-based violence."
As an award-winning teenage journalist, I want to change the stereotypes of what a survivor "should" look like, or "should" be capable of. I wish for a world where all survivors can seize the freedom and empowerment to write their own narrative too. I'm really looking forward to getting involved with this essential charity who carries out fearless, life-changing work."
Our CEO, Romy Rehfeld, reflected on Iona’s appointment, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Iona M.J. MacDonald as our Charity Ambassador. Her passion, resilience, and dedication to raising awareness of gender-based violence are inspiring. With Iona's support, we will continue to expand awareness of our service and provide vital support to survivors in our communities across Highland."
Iona’s appointment comes at a critical time for our organisation as we strive to meet the increasing demand for our services and tackle the root causes of sexual violence across Highland. As Charity Ambassador, Iona will play a pivotal role in driving positive change and fostering a culture of respect and equality.
Join us in welcoming Iona to the RASASH family! Together, we'll continue our life-changing work, empowering survivors and spreading hope. Stay tuned for more updates on how you too can get involved and make a difference!
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