- 1 year ago
The Queen has visited a new sexual assault referral centre in Exeter to mark Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2025. Her Majesty met with staff and was given a tour of the new facilities during the visit.
Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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NewsTranscript
00:00A few people have helped make this happen, so this is Pauline Seager from Devon Cornfield.
00:06Hello, how are you? Oh, it's nice to see you.
00:08There we are. This is Kate Davies. How are you?
00:12Oh, that's right, good. Thank you very much.
00:16What a salute I can do for the wonderful work that goes on here.
00:21This is Lindsay Howe, he's our general manager.
00:24Hello, how are you? So how long have you been?
00:26Managing this for about 15 years now, but we've only been here since October.
00:30This is Dr Hannah Lenton, who's our clinical lead, clinical manager.
00:35Lovely to meet you, I knew you'd been here a lot.
00:37Sexual Assault Referral Centres offer holistic care to children and adults that have experienced sexual harm.
00:42The services that we provide include forensic medical examination to assist a police investigation,
00:48injury documentation, we're available to anyone who needs us regardless of their age,
00:53sexual orientation or gender identity.
00:55The service provided support for 1,361 adults across Devon and Cornwall who had been raped or sexually assaulted.
01:02Of those, 347 attended the SARC for a forensic medical examination.
01:07Hello. Hello, how are you?
01:11It's very nice to meet you. Very well, thank you.
01:13It's a nice airy place, isn't it? Yes, yes.
01:17We've tried to make it really nice and child-friendly.
01:21So you bring them in there, sit them down.
01:24Yes, extolling my GP skills.
01:28We've got loads of jigsaw puzzles.
01:31So you just settle them down. Yes, and talk to their parents.
01:36You try and give them their stories.
01:39Yes, and make them feel at home and relaxed.
01:43We've got loads of time to give to them, so we go at their pace, we don't rush anyone.
01:48Normally, one at a time.
01:50Sometimes, unfortunately, we have siblings, so we might have the whole morning for a family group.
01:56But one child can come with a lot of adults to support them.
02:02So this room gets filled quite quickly.
02:05So this is our examination room.
02:07We've still got the fish on the wall.
02:09And again, when they get in here, it's always very child-focused.
02:13They say they don't want to do anything.
02:15They don't have to do anything.
02:17They don't have to do anything.
02:19Yes, it's quite up there.
02:22We either have a little play with this.
02:24So this is our camera.
02:26And we normally get them to put the toys in front of it.
02:29So that they can see that nothing's scary.
02:33So again, you have teenagers.
02:35Yes, we'll have teenagers come in as well.
02:37Yes, all the way up to 18.
02:39So they don't play.
02:41They quite like these fiddle kind of toys.
02:45But we do cater it for the age.
02:48So sometimes we'll have really young children in here.
02:51And they're bouncing all over the place.
02:53And climbing up and down here.
02:55We'll try and keep things slightly in check.
02:58And then we do, obviously, when they're teenagers.
03:01I didn't realise, literally, they went up to 18.
03:05Yes, up until their 18th birthday.
03:08And then the adult team will see them on that one.
03:11Yes, they're quite old.
03:14Yes, 17 year olds.
03:17I think you're all incredible.
03:19Oh, thank you.
03:20Thank you very much for coming to see it.
03:22What would happen without these places?
03:25Where would these children go?
03:28It would be nice if you weren't necessary.
03:30It would be nice.
03:32But unfortunately, you are very necessary.
03:37This is Holly, one of our forensic nurses.
03:40Hello.
03:44So this is our fully accessible forensic suite for adults.
03:48The really nice thing about in here is it makes people feel relaxed and comfortable.
03:52We've used, obviously, our lake view as our mural.
03:56To ensure that it doesn't feel so clinical.
03:59No, exactly.
04:00It just makes it a bit more relaxing.
04:02Definitely.
04:03So they come in here first?
04:05Yes, so they come and meet us.
04:06We're able to get to know each other and relax.
04:09And just build a rapport.
04:11But just, it enables people just to be able to say.
04:15Yes.
04:16And that's the biggest thing.
04:18Just sit down and talk.
04:20They've made it here.
04:21Definitely.
04:22They just need your help.
04:24Yeah, and they've done the brave thing and walked through the door.
04:27And I always explain to people that we're very lucky and very privileged that they've made that decision to walk through our door.
04:33Exactly.
04:34And they're going to go safely in your hands.
04:36100%.
04:37Yeah.
04:38So we do our forensic paperwork in here.
04:40And we talk through our forensic strategy.
04:42So what samples we can take.
04:44And we give people options.
04:45Just because we tell them all their options doesn't mean they have to take them.
04:48So we're also able to enable people to make decisions.
04:52And that's a massive thing for people as well.
04:54What we aim to do is we aim to have everything set up for them before they come into the forensic suite.
04:59So that they're able to not spend too much time in this initial room.
05:04We want them to be able to come in, have their forensics box taken, and then go and have a shower or get dressed.
05:10So they're not sat waiting for us.
05:12It's really important.
05:13It's a sort of quick process.
05:14Definitely.
05:15Try and keep that process as swift for them as possible.
05:17Just because we've discussed what samples we can take in the waiting room.
05:22We re-discuss them in here before we take them.
05:24Just making sure that they feel in total control throughout their time here.
05:28Hello.
05:29Hi, it's me.
05:30How are you?
05:31I'm very well, thank you.
05:32Oh, I'm just glad to see all the packs in.
05:34Hello.
05:35Lovely to see you.
05:36I'm Emma and this is Lisa from the Sark.
05:38A crisis worker from the Sark.
05:39I'm Emma from Inkind Direct.
05:41Yes.
05:42Well it's such a wonderful combination.
05:44It does show us how charities can unite.
05:47Absolutely right.
05:48With the power of the products.
05:50And then the logistics support.
05:52And then communications with the Sark.
05:54It seems to, 18 months in, work really, really well.
05:57Yeah, we're really proud.
05:58Yes, because you can do all the distribution.
06:00Yes.
06:01And you can, which is always the difference.
06:03It's lovely.
06:04Yeah.
06:05And I think we're changing the sense and just making it really, really far.
06:07Yeah, nine and a half thousand for the next however many years.
06:10So we're committed to it.
06:11Well it's a shame they're so needed, isn't it?
06:13It is, it is.
06:14And we were obviously hearing earlier how some of the victims are really, really appreciating.
06:18Yes.
06:19You know, the support we're getting.
06:20Well it's just something, isn't it?
06:21It's a little something.
06:22And when they're going through something like that, it's quite nice just to.
06:25You just need something.
06:26You just need something.
06:27You do.
06:28And you know, the happiness and the warm memories they're getting as well.
06:30It's a nice way.
06:31Well it wouldn't have happened without Boots.
06:33And it's just so important, I think.
06:35Yes, it certainly is.
06:36Definitely.
06:37It's very impactful.
06:38Couldn't have happened without all of you.
06:40So thank you very, very much.
06:42It's not an easy thing to put in place at the beginning.
06:46But now it's working.
06:47Absolutely.
06:48It runs smoothly.
06:49It's on the rails and it's working a dream.
06:52It really is.
06:53So thank you for today.
06:54And it's a commitment, isn't it?
06:56This is Dr Gemma.
06:57She's one of our paediatricians.
06:58Hello.
06:59Lovely to meet you.
07:00So it must be quite hard being a paediatrician, isn't it?
07:03Well, I suppose it can be, but it's really rewarding.
07:06Yes.
07:07I couldn't imagine doing anything else.
07:08No.
07:09Working with children is very good fun.
07:10It can be unpredictable.
07:11But in these sort of circles, it's not easy, isn't it?
07:14No.
07:15No.
07:16But it's also, I'd say, quite an honour to be able to be helping them.
07:20Yeah.
07:21And if you recover through the whole process.
07:24It gives us quite a dose of rewarding.
07:26Absolutely.
07:27Absolutely.
07:28We just wanted to know.
07:29You're one of our paediatric assistants.
07:30Hello.
07:31So how long have you been here?
07:32We've been here four months.
07:33This is Helen and Bex, and they're from NHS England.
07:35Hello.
07:36So they helped us make this happen.
07:37Oh, so you helped make this whole thing.
07:40Well, so on behalf of NHS England, we commissioned this.
07:44Yeah.
07:45I've worked with the team.
07:47Thank goodness.
07:48To realise the dream.
07:49Yeah.
07:50Really to deliver for the people of Devon Cornwall.
07:53Well, it does seem to be.
07:54The privilege.
07:55I visited quite a lot of sites, but this one is.
07:58We're moving around a bit.
08:00Well, it's much bigger than a lot of the sites.
08:02Yeah, it is.
08:03But the team's commitment.
08:05It does.
08:06Yeah.
08:07Yes, indeed.
08:08It is a hopeful place.
08:10It is.
08:11Yeah.
08:12And this is Nikki, our business manager.
08:14So she projects manage the building.
08:16Hello.
08:17So you manage.
08:18Yes.
08:19So we took a piece of paper that said we had to make an accreditation and turn it into
08:24a building.
08:25Yeah.
08:26Which was a fantastic thing.
08:27So we're very fortunate to have a great team around us to build it.
08:30But this is the building.
08:32Yeah.
08:33Or make any comments about how you found this business.
08:37Perhaps compared with.
08:38I know you have a great deal of experience in this area.
08:41Yeah, I've seen a lot of sites.
08:43But I think this is.
08:44How do we compare?
08:45Well, I think you're much bigger for a start.
08:48I don't think I've ever seen such a big one.
08:50But I haven't.
08:52I can't remember the last one I opened.
08:54But I think you can see that you're working together as a team so well.
08:59And everybody is completely committed to what they're doing, which is so important.
09:05That's fantastic.
09:06Yeah.
09:07Well, and I think you're coming here today really gives everybody the recognition they
09:11really deserve.
09:12Well, I'm sorry.
09:15But they are needed.
09:17And they're needed more and more over the country.
09:20So I think I don't think enough people know about them.
09:24I think.
09:25Well, I think thanks to your visit today, we can help make sure that more people know
09:30about the Exodus site.
09:32Because I mean, the incredible work you do here shouldn't go unrecognised.
09:37And you do it in a very quiet, sort of humble way.
09:42I don't think any of you realise quite the difference you make to these people's lives.
09:48You probably see it yourself when they go out looking happier than they came in.
09:54And I think what you said is exactly right.
09:56It's a fantastic collaboration between so many different people and organisations.
10:02It's a sense of link up with everybody, isn't it?
10:04Everybody doing their bit in the chain to make it work.
10:08And the huge commitment that lies behind that.
10:10And we are hugely grateful to all of our partners who help us deliver this kind of service at the Sark.
10:17And you're absolutely right.
10:19So thank you so much for coming to join us today.
10:23If there are no other questions or comments you'd like to make, then I will invite you to unveil the park.
10:33Oh, the right one.
10:35Are you on it?
10:37There we are.
10:49Thank you so much for coming.
10:51You're quite cordial.
10:53You do a brilliant job.
10:55And I think you shouldn't go unrecognised.
10:57So all of you working together do make such a difference to so many women, children and men over the country.
11:06And I don't know what they'd do without these Sarks.
11:10You know, if they would still be there, they would have no one to help them.
11:14And, you know, they wouldn't be in the place that some of them are now.
11:19Talking to one of the survivors, the difference it made to her life.
11:24I don't think you realise just quite how needed you are.
11:28Well, I think you've really brought that home to everybody.
11:31And thank you so much for the recognition you've given everybody.
11:35They really deserve it.
11:37And we are so grateful to you for sparing the time to come today.
11:40Not at all. I'm absolutely delighted to come.
11:42And thank you very much for showing me around.
11:45Thank you so much.
11:46Before I get the leachy flowers.
11:49I'm hanging on to the bottom.
11:51I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.
11:53Thank you very much indeed.