CARA supports people of all ages, sexes and gender identities.

We recognise the strength and bravery it takes for any victim or survivor to reach out for support and  take the first steps towards healing from abuse. 

From our discussions with men and boys, we understand that male victims and survivors sometimes face particular challenges to accessing CARA's services.  Men and boys have told us that these include:

• Fear of naming what has happened to them as sexual violence or abuse, and typing it into a search engine to find what they need.
• Not knowing where or who to go to.
• Feeling unsure about voicing their experience to others, such as their GP or other professionals who might be able to help by making a referral.
• Not wanting to open up about the abuse for fear of making things worse.
• Feeling like they should be able to just cope, and that seeking support is a sign of weakness.

There are many factors that might contribute to these challenges, such as:

• Feeling alone with something that happened in the past, sometimes for a long time.
• Fearing judgement from others due to outdated ideas of masculinity.
• Seeing sexual violence and abuse services as being for women and girls.
• Having felt silenced or dismissed in the past.  

CARA tries to listen and learn from each of our clients,  We understand that although anyone can experience trauma, everyone is an individual with their own unique experiences. 

Many of our male clients have told us that through CARA's support they have felt safe to talk about their feelings and what happend them, sometimes for the first time.  They have told us that CARA feels like a safe space and that it has meant a lot to them to be understood.

If you are a man or a boy, and have been a victim of sexual violence or child sexual abuse, please  reach out to CARA. 

We do all that we can to ensure that everybody referred to CARA feels safe, heard, respected and believed from the first contact with our service.