The Rowan is the regional Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for Northern Ireland. The highly trained team delivers a range of support and services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They provide support to children, young people, women and men who have been sexually abused, assaulted or raped, whether this happened in the past or more recently.
How do I access help?
There are a number of ways in which you can access help and support from The Rowan.
The first is through the police. If you have been sexually assaulted you can report this to the police directly via 999 or 101. They will arrange for you to visit The Rowan to discuss and receive the support and services you need.
The second is by self-referral (without police involvement). You can speak with a member of The Rowan Team by contacting their 24-hour advice and information line on 0800 389 4424. This is a free phone number from landlines.
During office hours 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, your call will be taken by a member of the team who will assist you. Outside of these hours, when you phone the same number, your call will be taken by an operator who will take your details in confidence. You will then receive a call back from a trained member of the Rowan Team.
If you do not want to make that first call yourself you can ask a friend, family member or any professional or support worker to help make the contact.
For more information on the services and support available, visit The Rowan website Sexual Assault Referral Centre – The Rowan