History
Juniper Lodge opened in May 1999 to provide multi-agency support to survivors of rape and sexual assault in Leicestershire and Rutland. In October of the same year, the service was extended to women and men over 16 years old who do not want police involvement.
What we offer
The service offers an appropriate environment for examination for forensic evidence, statement taking and support work. Police now bring most cases of rape and sexual assault (over 13's) to Juniper Lodge. They are offered a support worker, a trained volunteer, who can support the person very soon after the report to look at emotional and practical needs.
- Survivors can also access the service via the helpline
- Answer machine messages are accessed and replied to regularly
- Telephone support, or up to 8 sessions of face-to-face support is available
- Information from specially trained police officers and/or a medical examination can be provided
A forensic medical examination can take place up to 7 days after the attack (depending on forensic timescales), without police involvement. This enables a person to ensure forensic evidence is collected, while they decide whether they want to report to the police.
About the Lodge
The Lodge is a dedicated centre that is fully furnished and decorated in a comfortable and non-threatening manner. It is located in a convenient but discreet location in Leicester. The Lodge is easily accessible by public transport and by car from all areas of the county.
Our commitment
Juniper Lodge strives to make their services available to as many people as possible so we have full disabled access and provide literature in different languages and large print. We also have support workers and partner agencies who offer support in various languages.
It is well documented that few survivors of rape and sexual assault report the attack to the police. Juniper Lodge keeps a database of anonymous information to gather a clearer picture of this violent crime. This will inform future campaigns and police investigations.
Education and personal safety courses in schools and youth groups are planned throughout school term time. This will encourage more effective strategies to access support and deal with issues around sexual relationships and negotiation. This will be accompanied by wide spread media campaigns to encourage more victims to come forward.
Continual review and assessment of the service is undertaken at Juniper Lodge to enable us to be the most appropriate multi-agency service for victims of rape and sexual assault. Visits to the Lodge are welcomed, as are talks to other agencies and staff teams about the work at Juniper Lodge.
Get in touch
Juniper Lodge can be contacted on:
Business line - 0116 273 5461
Helpline - 0116 273 3330
Alternatively, you can e-mail us using the contact form.
