Supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault
Caring for people who are at their most vulnerable is at the heart of the Wash Bag Project. We are working in partnership with Her Majesty The Queen’s office to provide survivors of rape and sexual abuse with a wash bag at Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the UK and the Crown Dependencies.
Each wash bag contains personal care items donated by Boots, including shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, a comb, lip salve and a toothbrush. These washbags represent a small gesture of comfort during a highly distressing time for clients.
The programme runs twice a year to deliver 4,750 wash bags to 61 SARCs across the UK, ensuring the SARCs have a consistent supply of personal care items to help clients feel clean and well following their visit.
We are also helping SARCs who want to access other items such as clothing, period pads and men’s personal care products to add to the support they provide.
“I can say that handing over the washbags is always a high point of our interaction with our clients. They are hugely grateful, and it helps them leave us in a far more positive frame of mind than when they arrived.” Blue Sky Centre SARC, Nuneaton
Image: Member of the team at The Bridgeway SARC, Cumbria holds up a wash bag
“The wash bags have proven invaluable and while it may seem like a small gesture, the impact they have on a young person’s well being is undeniably significant.” Pebble House SARC, Brighton
Image credit: Pebble House SARC, Brighton
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