The Rape Crisis movement

‘Her’story – a mini timeline of the Rape Crisis Movement.

• It all began with a handful of women in the 1970s who wanted to DO SOMETHING in response to the need for support for survivors and for campaigning against sexual violence.
• The first rape crisis centre opened in Glasgow in 1976, followed by the Edinburgh centre in 1978.
• Originally the rape crisis centres relied solely on volunteers, voluntary contributions and occasional small grants.
• By the mid 1990’s the constitution for Rape Crisis Scotland had been approved by Inland Revenue. Funding was secured from the Scottish government for a national office.
• Now we have 16 rape crisis centres across Scotland, from as far north as Shetland and as far south as Dumfries.

If you want to find out a bit more about the amazing women and their experiences of the early days of the rape crisis movement you can download the wonderful Woman to Woman, An Oral History of Rape Crisis in Scotland, 1976-1991.