Trans Inclusion Statement

In support of Trans Pride Scotland today, we are publishing our Trans Inclusion Statement.

Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre (ERCC) has been supporting survivors of sexual violence for over 40 years. In 2008 we began actively and publicly offering support to all members of the trans community who had experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives. We were one of the first Rape Crisis centres in the UK to welcome survivors from the trans community into our support service.

We are a proud feminist organisation and intersectionality is at the heart of what we do. We are committed to supporting all survivors, including those from the trans community and those who face discrimination and injustice within society.

ERCC offers specialist trauma-informed, survivor-led support to: women; trans women; trans men; non binary people; and young people of all genders aged 12-18.

Respect

ERCC aims to be a pro-actively trans inclusive service. We recognise that trans people experience high levels of sexual violence but also face additional barriers in accessing support. Our staff have been fully trained to be sensitive, informed and respectful in all our spaces through specialist awareness raising training.

We understand that for many, it can be difficult to access our support for the first time. It may be very difficult to talk about what happened and you may worry about not being believed. When you contact us we will listen to you, believe you and we will support you.

Everyone should be free to express their own identity with dignity. ERCC operates on the basis of self-declaration and has done so since 2008. Recognising trans and non binary people on a self-identification basis is key to our feminist principles in which we support people of marginalised groups to have full autonomy over their rights, identities and bodies.

Our service is open to anyone who self identifies as a woman, trans woman, trans man or non binary person. We offer a person-centred service to all survivors of all genders who use our service.

Safety

We take the wellbeing and safety of those using our services very seriously and we are committed to providing safe inclusive spaces (including online). We are a trauma-informed organisation with over 40 years of expert knowledge and have developed robust safeguarding procedures to ensure the safety of those accessing our services.

Confidentiality

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and non binary (LGBTI+) people may experience negative attitudes in society and prejudice, and have concerns about public revelation of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. We will not disclose the gender history of anyone accessing support, working or volunteering at ERCC without their permission.

LGBT Scotland Gold Chartermark

In 2020 we were awarded the LGBT Scotland Gold Charter Mark in recognition of our work to make ERCC a LGBTI+ inclusive organisation and reduce barriers to our service. Striving for a safe, accessible and inclusive sexual violence service is always ongoing. We will continue to review our policies and practices to ensure we are as fully a LGBTI+ inclusive organisation as possible and proactively include LGBTI+ people in all aspects of our work.