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Support options

The STAR Centre offers a range of support options.

Helpline support can be accessed when needed. The helpline is currently open on Mondays between 2pm and 5pm and on Thursdays between 11 am and 2 pm. For phone support phone 07850 214805 or make initial contact with the helpline by texting 07850 214803 where you can leave a message and a support worker will call you back. The helpline also offers contact by instant messaging which can be accessed by visiting our website during helpline opening hours.

Face to face support can be provided by one of our support team over a period of 12 support sessions. This in person support is delivered at our base in Kilmarnock and lasts up to 1 hour. It is normally delivered weekly but can also be accessed fortnightly if this is more suitable.

Telephone support can be offered over the longer term if these would suit. This can be useful for some women who may find it hard to attend face to face appointments in Kilmarnock. Sessions last up to 1 hour and are also delivered over 12 support sessions.

Online support can be offered by Zoom or Teams and will be provided as above over 12 sessions/1 hour each.

Email support sometimes suits and the allocated support worker will respond to the woman’s emails during the agreed support time.

All sessions, apart from helpline support, times for all longer term support sessions will be agreed between the woman and her support worker.

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🔔 Reminder 🔔 Our helpline is open on Mondays and Thursdays, offering support to anyone who has experienced sexual violence at anytime in their life. Whether you are looking for emotional support, information, or advocacy support - we are here to help. Opening Times: Mondays 2pm-5pm Thursdays 11am-2pm 📞 Call: 07850 214805 💬 Text: 07850 214803 💻️ Instant message during helpline hours via www.starcentreayrshire.org 📧 Email: support.mail@starcentreayrshire.org Remember, you are not alone - support is available 🩵 #HelplineSupport #ImmediateSupport #ConfidentialSupport #Advocacy #RuralAccessibility
Happy National Read a Book Day! 📖 🩷 Self-Care can look different for everyone. Sometimes it can be as simple as taking some time for yourself, getting cosy with a good book, and allowing yourself a moment away from the demands of everyday life. For survivors of sexual violence, self-care can be especially important. Self-care might be doing something you enjoy like reading or spending time with friends, getting outside, resting - or reaching out for support when you need it. There is no 'right' way to practice self-care, and you don't have to do it alone. Reaching out for support is a form of self-care too. If you have experienced sexual violence and would like support, The STAR Centre is here for you. 📞 01563 544686 🌐 www.starcentreayrshire.org Whatever self-care looks like for you today, you deserve care, kindness, and support 🩵 #NationalReadABookDay #SelfCare #TheSTARCentre
🌍💜 This International Day of Charity, we’re celebrating the power of community. As a small rape crisis centre, every bit of support makes a real difference. Donate, fundraise for us, share our posts, or simply help raise awareness of the support we provide. Whether it’s making a donation through our JustGiving, sharing our posts, starting a fundraiser, having a conversation, spreading the word, or helping someone find our services, every gesture makes a difference. There are so many ways to support our work, and no gesture is too small. 💜 Thank you for standing with survivors and helping us continue our work. Together, we make a difference. 🫶 🔗 You can support us through JustGiving. Link in bio 🔗 #InternationalDayOfCharity #TheSTARCentre #RapeCrisisAyrshireAndArran #EveryGestureHelps #RaiseAwareness
Today is World Sexual Health Day 🌍️ This year's theme is Every Body - and the space between those two words is important. It holds two ideas at once: every person, and the body they inhabit. Every person lives in a body, but not every body experiences sexual health, rights, justice, and pleasure on equal terms. Stigma, discrimination, and the assumptions built into our healthcare, education, and wider systems can create barriers for people whose experiences don't fit what is treated as the
“Revenge porn” is a misnomer. The term suggests that sharing intimate images without consent is an act of “revenge”, implying that the person whose image has been shared has somehow done something to deserve it. They haven’t. It is never the survivor’s fault. People can consensually send intimate photos to each other, sometimes regularly and as part of a relationship. Choosing to send someone a photo means consenting to that person receiving it. It does not mean consenting to that photo being shared with anyone else. Consent is specific. The recipient is responsible for respecting the consent that was given. Sharing, posting or forwarding an intimate image without consent is a choice made by the person who shares it. We use the term image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) because it better describes what is happening and the harm caused. #ImageBasedSexualAbuse #IBSA #RevengePorn #TheSTARCentre #RapeCrisisAyrshireAndArran
📚️ With the beginning of the new academic year, we have taken the opportunity to look back on our prevention work over the past year. During 2025-26, we had the privilege of working with 4,640 young people across 232 workshops, creating spaces for young people to learn, ask questions, and have open conversations about healthy relationships, consent, and sexual violence. We've received some really positive feedback, with young people telling us our workshops have helped them feel more confident talking about consent, understand how power dynamics can influence relationships, and more confident in challenging the attitudes and behaviours they see around them. Prevention starts with conversations - by giving young people the opportunity to develop their knowledge, challenge harmful attitudes, and think critically about relationships, we can support them to make informed choices and recognise what healthy relationships can look and feel like. Our free workshops are available to schools, youth groups, colleges, and universities across Ayrshire. To find out more or to book a workshop, get in touch with The STAR Centre at prevention@starcentreayrshire.org.
✨️ Stopping violence against women is everyone's business ✨️ We all have a role to play in challenging the attitudes, behaviours, and inequalities that allow violence to happen. This can mean speaking up when we hear sexist or harmful comments, challenging victim-blaming, promoting healthy relationships and consent, educating ourselves, and supporting survivors with compassion and without judgement. We all have a responsibility to challenge violence, change harmful attitudes, and help create a world where everyone feels safe, respected, and heard. Together, we can challenge violence and be part of the change 💜 #16DaysOfActivism #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #Consent #GenderBasedViolence
Boundaries are more than saying “no.” They are about knowing what feels safe, comfortable and right for you, and having the freedom to communicate that without fear of being punished, pressured or made to feel guilty. You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to leave. You are allowed to ask someone to stop. You are allowed to decide what happens to your body, your time, your space and your relationships. And importantly, you do not have to justify a boundary for it to be valid. A healthy relationship respects boundaries, even when someone doesn’t understand them or wouldn’t make the same choice themselves. Someone being disappointed by your boundary does not make your boundary unreasonable. When another person repeatedly ignores, pushes, challenges or decides your boundaries for you, that isn't respect; it's control. If someone has crossed your boundaries, pressured you, or made you feel that you weren't allowed to say no, please remember: it isn't your fault. You don't have to navigate what happened alone. 💜 Our team is here to offer confidential, non-judgemental support to people affected by sexual violence. You don't need to have all the answers, and you don't have to know exactly what you need before reaching out. If you need us, we're here to listen, support you and help you take things at your own pace. Your boundaries matter. Your voice matters. You matter. 💜 #Boundaries #HealthyRelationships #TheSTARCentre #RapeCrisisAyrshireAndArran #YourBodyYourChoice
The STAR Centre is here for you. Always. If you or someone you know needs support you can call us on 01563 544 686 or visit our website: starcentreayrshire.org #TheSTARCentre #RapeCrisisAyrshireAndArran #SupportingSurvivors
Fawning: A Trauma Response. When we talk about responses to trauma, we often hear about fight, flight, or freeze. But, there is another response that is just as important to understand: fawning. Fawning can look like agreeing, going along with something, people-pleasing, apologising, or trying to keep someone happy in a situation where you don't feel safe. Because it can look like cooperation from the outside, fawning is sometimes wrongly interpreted as consent. But - Fawning is not consent. A trauma response can happen automatically when someone feels threatened, overwhelmed or unsafe; it is our brains trying to keep us alive and safe in dangerous situations - we don't get to choose these in the moment. Someone may respond in a way that helps them get through the situation - even when what is happening isn't something they want. Understanding trauma responses can help us challenge victim-blaming and create more compassion for survivors. If you have experienced sexual violence, you are not alone, support is available at The STAR Centre. #Fawning #TraumaResponse #Consent #SexualViolenceAwareness
Consider this our kind of chic. 💜 Creating spaces where people feel heard, listened to and supported matters. So does knowing where to turn when you need help, whether that’s for yourself or someone you care about. We're here for you. #TheSTARCentre #RapeCrisisAyrshireAndArran #KindaChic
📢 We’re hiring: Prevention Worker We’re looking for a Prevention Worker to join The STAR Centre and deliver the National Prevention Programme to young people from S1–S6 across schools, further education establishments and youth projects throughout North, East and South Ayrshire. We’re looking for someone who is passionate about preventing sexual violence and committed to challenging the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to it. You’ll play an important role in delivering education that promotes healthy relationships, consent, respect and equality. 📍 Based in Kilmarnock, with outreach across Ayrshire 🕐 Full time – 35 hours per week 💷 £34,307 per annum + 6% pension contribution 🌴 40 days’ annual leave, including public holidays This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference to young people through engaging, preventative work. Only women need apply for this post. The post is exempt under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. Interested? Check out: https://goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP1000001uBkzIAE/prevention-and-education-worker Closing date: 29/08 #JobVacancy #PreventionWorker #AyrshireJobs #YouthWork #PreventSexualViolence
🚨 AI should never become a tool for abuse.🚨 AI is transforming the way we live and work - but it is also being misused to perpetrate sexual violence. From deepfake intimate images to online sexual harassment - technology-facilitated abuse is a growing issue with very real consequences. The impact can be devastating, affecting survivor's wellbeing and their sense of control. As technology continues to evolve, so must our understanding of abuse. Sexual violence does not only happen face-to-face - it can happen through a screen, an app, or a manipulated image. The harm is equally as serious. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, in person, or online, support is available through The STAR Centre #DeepfakeAwareness #ImageBasedAbuse #ConsentMatters #SupportSurvivors #ProtectPrivacy
Consent doesn't have to be complicated. Ask. Listen. Respect. Consent is about making sure everyone feels comfortable, safe, and free to choose. It's not just about hearing
Not every day is a good day! Here are some ways to take care of yourself on a bad day 🧡 Remember, self-care can look different for everyone. It might mean taking a break, talking to someone you trust, or seeking support when you need it. For those who have experienced sexual violence, self-care can be an important part of healing. Remember, The STAR Centre is here for support, and you don't have to face things alone.
🚦 Consent: Stop. Think. Check. Consent isn't just about hearing
Give yourself time. 💜 After experiencing trauma, it's natural to want things to feel different. You may wish you could move on more quickly or wonder why healing is taking so long. The truth is, healing doesn't happen overnight. It takes time, patience and compassion. There may be days when you feel stronger and days when things feel overwhelming again. That doesn't mean you're going backwards—it simply means you're human. Try not to put pressure on yourself to heal by a certain date or compare your journey to someone else's. Your experiences are unique, and so is your path to healing. Today, give yourself permission to slow down. To rest if you need to. To acknowledge how far you've already come, even if it doesn't always feel like progress. You don't have to rush your healing. You deserve the time and space to heal in your own way, at your own pace. If you feel ready, we're here to listen. 💜 #TheSTARCentre #RapeCrisisAyrshireAndArran #HealingTakesTime #TraumaRecovery #SelfCompassion #YouAreNotAlone
Healthy relationships are built on respect, trust, and consent 🩷 They should feel, safe, supportive, and equal - not controlling, pressured, or harmful. Everyone deserves: 💗 To be listened to 💗 To have their boundaries respected 💗 To communicate openly 💗 To feel safe being themselves If a relationship doesn't feel right, you are not alone. Support is available. #HealthyRelationships #RespectAndConsent #YouAreNotAlone #TheSTARCentre #RapeCrisisAyrshireAndArran
Self-care isn't selfish - it's an important part of maintaining our physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. When we think about self-care, its often portrayed as bubble baths, face masks, and candles. While those things can be lovely, self-care isn't always picture-perfect. Sometimes self-care means setting boundaries, taking a break, getting enough rest, or being kinder to yourself. Other times, it can be reaching out for support when you're struggling. For those affected by sexual violence, asking for help can be one of the most important acts of self-care. You are not alone, The STAR Centre is here for support, providing a safe, trauma-informed space to access support, information, and advocacy. 💜 This International Self-Care Day, please do something kind for yourself, whether that's resting, doing something that brings you joy, or reaching out for support.
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