Asa Support Hub launched during awareness week

Posted 2nd February 2021

Notts SVS Services are delighted to be delivering the Asa hub which launches during Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness week. The hub will be a single point of access for all adult survivors living in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

The hub has been designed in consultation with survivors of sexual violence. They were able to talk to commissioners to say what services are needed to ensure the long-term recovery of adults who have experienced such abuse. The name ‘Asa’ was chosen with survivor input and has many roots pointing to meanings such as healer, morning and hope.

The hub is being jointly funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, local authorities and clinical commissioning groups. It will provide access to many services, including counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and a drop-in service. Services will be be open during the daytime, early evening and weekends. They are all free of charge.

Asa supports all adult survivors of abuse, including women, men, people with disabilities and members of the LGBT+ community and from a BAME background. The service is also aware of gender needs with a choice of male or female counsellors women and men seen in women-only and men-only spaces.

Paddy Tipping, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said “We are extremely proud of the new model and the specialist recovery paths it offers. Victims of sexual violence deserve the very best support available and we believe our new services will make a huge difference to the welfare and mental health of survivors in the future. What’s more, we will continue to seek their feedback and insight moving forward to ensure we continue to meet their needs.”

Novlet Holness, chief executive of Notts SVSS, said: “Notts SVS Services are delighted to be delivering the Asa hub in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. We are very fortunate to have commissioners that listen to the thoughts, feelings and ideas of survivors and who have the confidence in support services such as ours to implement what is needed. This long-term funding will reassure survivors and enable them to access support at a time that is right for them.

“We have been supporting survivors for nearly 40 years and are excited to put in place all the new features of this service, including access to new therapies and longer opening hours. The Asa service has been designed with survivors at its heart and will continue to grow through their ongoing input, ensuring survivor needs are met both now and in the future.”

Asa formally opened on January 2 and support can be accessed via its helpline on 0115 941 0440 or online referral forms. The helpline is open 10am and 1pm and 4.30pm and 7.30pm Monday to Friday and between 10am and 1pm on Saturday and Sundays.

Alongside the Asa hub, Notts SVSS will continue to provide its other services which include the ISVA and the Survivors Support Services.

For more information about the Asa Hub, visit: https://nottssvss.org.uk/asa-about/

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