Last week, her Majesty The Queen officially opened the new Exeter Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), coinciding with national Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Week and we were honoured to be there representing Boots and our Wash Bags partnership.
Her Majesty The Queen has worked in support of those who have experienced sexual harm for a number of years and initiated The Wash Bags Project, which Boots has supported since 2017, alongside distribution partner charity In Kind Direct, has provided almost 60,000 wash bags filled with toiletries for survivors to use after a forensic examination as a small gesture of comfort.
Candice Smith, Head of ESG at Boots, said “We are extremely proud through the Wash Bags Project to support the outstanding work that Sexual Assault Referral Centres like this one in Exeter do, day in day out. Everyone deserves to feel safe and cared for, and to have access to comfort and dignity in the most difficult of times.”
SARCs support people who have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused at any time in their life.
Lyndsay Howell, General Manager of Devon & Cornwall SARC said: “We work tirelessly to raise awareness of our work to help ensure that anyone who has experienced sexual harm knows that there is specialist help and support available.
Having our new centre officially opened by Her Majesty has been a great honour for all our team, and we hope this will help highlight the safe and dedicated care we provide for anyone who may need our services.”
Michael Gidney, CEO of charity In Kind Direct, said: “It was so inspiring to attend the official opening of the new Exeter SARC today by The Queen, during National Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week. Her Majesty is playing a vital role in shining a light on an issue which is still too often ignored, and where support for survivors can feel hard to find. Through the Wash Bag project, I am so proud that Boots UK and In Kind Direct are working together to deliver Wash Bags to SARCs across the country, and with them provide some comfort and dignity during times of unimaginable distress.”
