The hub is surprisingly cosy – two small sofas and a coffee table in front of a tiny glass office, where private conversations are held. A bank of desks, where the operators’ man the service’s webchat and helpline, are by a compact kitchen.
‘I have three daughters, and before I’d always tell them “don’t drink too much” or “you can’t wear anything too short.” That myth was busted immediately as total rubbish when we were trained.’Operator Diane joined Rape Crisis in November, and has been left stunned at the overwhelming nature of the role
‘You might have been in Bristol trying to call on a Wednesday and the helpline’s not open,’ she says. ‘But if you were from another part of the country, they would be able to access support. It was about combining those efforts to create something national so we can give time to everyone at any time – day or night.’When the team behind Rape Crisis were putting together the service, there was an initial conversation at how busy the service was going to be in the small hours.
Rape Crisis Lincolnshire CEO Laura was highly selective in finding people robust enough to handle an operator role Abby oversees the extensive training programme to ensure all the operators can offer sound, practical advice ‘We get people from all professions and walks of life,’ adds fellow operator Lauren Brackenbury, 22. ‘Doctors, teachers, shop workers. It just goes to show how widespread sexual violence is in society is.
Tori Corry, who serves as the centre manager for Rape Crisis Lincolnshire, endeavours to ensure the wellbeing of those on the front line. As a former face-to-face support worker, she knows how tough the job can be. To help operators cope, Tori continues that a physical partition is implemented between work and home life. Working from home is banned, and operators are discouraged from watching dramas or documentaries which feature sexual assaults to allow them to switch off in their freetime.
Lucy Hall, 33, was raped at a party in 2018. In the immediate aftermath of her attack, she felt ‘vulnerable’ and nihilistic as she struggled to come to terms with what happened. ‘There are the times where I’d wake up at 3am and feel like I couldn’t breathe,’ she recalls. ‘When you’re alone at night battling these sorts of thoughts on your own…it can make you feel even more isolating.’
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