Sexual Health Awareness Month

21 minutes ago

3 min read

This Sexual Health Awareness Month, are you aware that Citizens Advice offers support to survivors of domestic abuse, which includes sexual assault, rape and coercive and controlling behaviour?

Our team of family advisers can provide information and advice on; obtaining emergency court orders, separation and divorce, financial orders, making child arrangements and any family related problem. If you, or someone you know, needs help please feel free to reach out to Citizens Advice Stevenage on:  

 Citizens Advice Office Stevenage 

https://www.castevenage.org.uk/get-advice 

T: 0800 144 8848  

Since January 2026, 56 clients have reached out to Citizens Advice Stevenage regarding sexual abuse, and/or coercive and controlling behaviour. From August 2025 – July 2026, a total of 4,225 Violent and Sexual Offenses in the Stevenage area have been reported to the Hertfordshire Constabulary¹. In reality, this number is probably much higher, especially given the sensitivity of the topic with people unwilling to speak about it and the fact that coercive behaviour is sometimes difficult to identify at the time.

Find where you can get help if you're a victim of rape or another type of sexual assault. The Citizens Advice website has lots of helpful information including; the legal definition of rape and sexual assault, how to report rape or sexual assault, other sources of support if you don’t feel ready to go to the Police and other forms of support. Rape and sexual assault - Citizens Advice

Clare's Law, also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), is a police policy that gives people the right to know if their current or ex-partner has any previous history of violence or abuse. This law allows you to make an application to the police requesting information about your current or ex-partner, as well as the current or ex-partner of a friend, neighbor, or family member because you are concerned about future domestic abuse - you have the right to ask and the right to know².

Citizens Advice Stevenage partners with organisations such as SADA, which supports survivors of domestic abuse. They offer Drop-In sessions, help with housing and tenancy issues, debt and benefits advice, support around accessing legal advice, and more. Friends of SADA is a charity that supports SADA's efforts in Hertfordshire, supporting victims and the families and friends of domestic abuse victims.

Other agencies based in Stevenage and Hertfordshire that can help are:  