Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme: the Right to Ask and the Right to Know

Lucy Hale, a detective with Dorset Police, writes about Clare's Law; a tool that helps individuals make informed decisions about continuing a relationship by enquiring about a person's past history of domestic abuse. Read more
Here's How the Story (Never) Ends

Gary Pleece, from the Male Survivors Partnership, writes about the importance of research in transforming support for men and boys affected by sexual violence. Read more
Another hidden cost of disability – lack of support for disabled victims of sexual assault or abuse

Lorraine Stanley, a disabled woman, writes about her personal experience with sexual abuse and how it is a common issue for disabled people. She highlights the CSEW report for 2018-2020 showing that women with disabilities were more likely to experience sexual assault than women without disabilities. Read more
Sexual Trauma and the impact on Memory

When we experience anything that activates our primitive survival system (Flight/Flight/Freeze or Flop) our logical thinking switches off, an appropriate response to something that is potentially life threatening, whether real or perceived. Yet, our response (flight/fight/freeze or flop) often leaves a feeling of anger, shame or ‘stupidity’ because we didn’t react how we thought we should and can also impair our memory. Read about it in this blog. Read more

STARS Dorset Blogs

Please note all our blogs are very kindly written by supporters of the charity and they do not always represent the views of STARS Dorset but we hope they are informative and promote discussion around issues pertaining to the work we do.

Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme: the Right to Ask and the Right to Know

Lucy Hale, a detective with Dorset Police, writes about Clare's Law; a tool that helps individuals make informed decisions about continuing a relationship by enquiring about a person's past history of domestic abuse. Read more

Here's How the Story (Never) Ends

Gary Pleece, from the Male Survivors Partnership, writes about the importance of research in transforming support for men and boys affected by sexual violence. Read more

Another hidden cost of disability – lack of support for disabled victims of sexual assault or abuse

Lorraine Stanley, a disabled woman, writes about her personal experience with sexual abuse and how it is a common issue for disabled people. She highlights the CSEW report for 2018-2020 showing that women with disabilities were more likely to experience sexual assault than women without disabilities. Read more

Sex trafficking – The most lucrative business globally?

Leicester University’s work on gender-based violence

A blog by the Wellbeing Officer and the Democracy and Campaigns Coordinator at Leicester Students' Union on what they have done to tackle gender based violence on campus. Read more

Neurodiversity in counselling

By Dr Shanti Shanker CPsychol. FHEA, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University & Trainee Counsellor Read more

Moving Towards an Agendered Perpetrator, Time For Change to the Sexual Offences Act 2003

Whilst the Sexual Offences Act 2003 modernised ‘rape’ through the introduction of an agendered victim, this blog written by a student and lecturers in Law from Bournemouth University, argues it is now time to introduce the agendered perpetrator. Read more

Sexual Violence and Abuse in the LGBT+ Community

Sexual violence and abuse has high figures in the LGBT+ community, but considering this fact, it is not discussed enough, meaning stories can go unheard and help can go ungiven. Read more

LGBTQ+ History month

LGBTQ+ History month began in the UK in 2005. Its goal was to bring LGBTQ+ history to light. To provide resource, role models and context for LGBTQ+ children and adults. A drive to redress the balance, to correct the straightwashing of history. Read more

Who are The Survivors Trust?

The Survivors Trust is a non-profit, national membership organisation for specialist rape and sexual abuse services. Their vision is to improve access to specialist services for survivors of rape, sexual abuse and assault. STARS Dorset is a member of The Survivors Trust. Read more

What happens when you report a sexual assault and what is Dorset Police doing to improve its service.

A blog by Steve Symms, Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RaSSo) Force Champion for Dorset Police on how the police work on a sexual assault case and a link to their Investigation Timeline. Read more

Support for those living with HIV - Body Positive Dorset

1st December is World AIDS Day, and it is a day to remember those that have lost the battle to AIDS complications and to commemorate the people living with or affected by HIV. But what does it mean to be a woman in all of this? A blog by Samantha Dawson Manager of Body Positive Dorset Read more

Latest

The Therapist's Own Attachment

This full day event explores attachment patterns through interactive exercises, helping participants reflect on their own attachment history and its impact on their relationships and professional work. Led by Linda Cundy, an expert in attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy, the workshop also focuses on identifying practitioner strengths and areas for development.
Sexual Violence Awareness Week - in the Bournemouth Echo

STARS organized various events during Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week to improve access to support and education. Read about it in the Bournemouth Echo.
Trauma Teddies

Knit a trauma teddy to support our work.
Our trustees

Green Flags vs Red Flags

We all know about red flags in relationships. Those little (or big) things that trigger our warning system and get the alarm lights flashing. But how much do you know about green flags?
Locked Up for Killing Your Abuser. Why the Law Does Nothing to Protect Domestic Abuse Victims who Protect Themselves ‘Too Far’.

We currently live in a country with laws which perceive domestic abuse victims as mentally ill or cold-blooded killers for killing their abuser after years of prolonged abuse.
How the Brain Works in Response to a Traumatic Event

In this blog by Alison Woodward, Clinical Supervisor at STARS Dorset, we look at How the Brain Works in Response to a Traumatic Event. The 5 Fs, Fight, Flight, Freeze, Flop and Friend.
Why do we victim blame?

In this blog by Ellie Rowe, MSc Investigative Forensic Psychology student at Bournemouth University, we look at Victim Blaming. Victim blaming often involves false beliefs or thoughts that attempt to shift the blame from the perpetrator of the crime to the victim
Contact Us

Our contact details, how to get in touch.
The lies rape myths tell us and why we have to dispel them

In this blog by Jessica Smythe, MSc Investigative Forensic Psychology, we look at rape myths, the stereotyped and false beliefs about sexual assaults, rapists and rape victims which often serve to excuse sexual violence, create hostility toward victims and can lead to bias in criminal prosecution.
Jobs

STARS Dorset are looking to expand their Engagement Team.
The problematic use of past sexual history as evidence in rape trials

The problematic use of past sexual history as evidence in rape trials by Kez Bhola-Dare, 2ND Year Law Student, Bournemouth University, and Jamie Fletcher, Lecturer in Law, Bournemouth University. Whilst there are a range of sexual assault myths that can influence rape trials, this blog focuses on the myth that a women’s sexual history is an indicator of consent to the act in question.
Counselling Service

STARS Counselling service provides one to one, trauma informed counselling, free of charge, for anyone of any age or gender who lives, works or studies in Dorset and has experienced any form of sexual violence at anytime in their life.
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