An Garda Síochána are the Police force in the Republic of Ireland.
If you are being assaulted in any way, or believe you are about to be, this is an emergency and you can call them for protection.
In an emergency call 999 / 112
SATU is a 24-7 free, confidential HSE service which provides clinical, forensic and supportive care for all gender identities 14 years and older who have experienced sexual violence. We help anyone who has had unwanted sexual contact of any kind. We can also help if you cannot remember what happened but think you may have been sexually assaulted.
There are three options of care for those attending, including forensic examination following reporting to An Garda Síochána, health assessment and care with or without reporting to An Garda Síochána and for patients over 18 years, and forensic examination with safe storage of evidence providing the opportunity for subsequent reporting.
Click here for information on SATU and what happens there. Call 091 765 751 from 8am-4pm weekdays, 091 757 631 after hours and ask for SATU.
The Child and Adolescent Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (CASATS) provides free, confidential, 24-7 clinical, forensic and supportive care to patients under 14 years of age. CASATS and SATU services are co-located. Please find further information on the CASATS service here.
If you are outside of Galway, find your nearest SATU here
GRCC is a non-governmental organisation which provides counselling and support services to victims of sexual violence in the community. GRCC services are available to people of all genders aged 14 and upwards. We also provide support for family members and friends of those who have experienced sexual violence and abuse. The centre is in Galway City with outreach clinics in Gort, Ballinasloe, Tuam and Oughterard. GRCC runs a helpline from 10am-1pm Monday to Friday on 1800 355 355 and other services include:
– Confidential crisis counselling and long term counselling services
– Adolescent counselling service
– Advice and support for family and friends of survivors
– Legal Information Clinic
– Psychological support at the SATU immediately after a rape/sexual assault.
– Accompaniment to Garda station and court
– Awareness Campaigns and Advocacy
– Education/Training and Awareness Programmes
– You can contact GRCC by calling our helpline on 1800 355 355, our business line on 091 564800 or emailing admin@grcc.ie.
NATIONAL 24/7 Helpline, run from Dublin Rape Crisis Centre: 1800 77 8888. Also webchat, check details here .
The HSE Crisis Pregnancy supports are accessible through www.MyOptions.ie, also by phone on 1800 828 010 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
All people of all genders affected by a crisis pregnancy can contact them for support and advice, as well as information on abortion and how to access it and support and information on continuing the pregnancy.
Their phone helpline provides multiple language interpreters as well as sign language, web chat and all contact options can be found here.
Sexual Health West are a Galway based charity providing education and support to people in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon on their Sexual Health.
Formerly AIDS West, we retain a support role for people living with HIV in this region also.
Our Galway Office is in Ozanam House in St Augustine St in Galway.
We can be called on 091 566 266 or 0860249111 or emailed on info@sexualhealthwest.ie.
www.sexualhealthwest.ie
STIs are common in Ireland, anyone can have one and the ONLY way to know if you or someone else has one is by getting tested. For more information on STIs click here.
Free testing including HIV tests are available at:
If you want to access a free do-it-yourself at home test kit please check this HSE website:
www.sh24.ie to see if your region is covered by this campaign.
Sexual Health West offers free Rapid HIV testing regularly, this information is always promoted on their social media.
Find a list of GPs offering sexual health check-ups in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon here. They often charge for this, even if you have a medical card so ask cost first.
The Irish Family Planning Association provide contraception, specialist pregnancy counselling, abortion care, sexual and reproductive health services and training.
They have a face to face counselling service in Galway city centre for crisis pregnancy or post abortion support.
Call 0818 49 50 51
SWAI is an organisation that works with sex workers for better access to rights, health and justice in Ireland.
Their mission statement is to promote the social inclusion, health, safety, civil rights and the right to self determination of female, male, cisgender and transgender sex workers.
Based at 13 Lower Dorset St in Dublin, you can call them on 085 8249 305 or email on info@swai.eu
Ruhama support women affected by the sale of their bodies for sex.
Their support services are FREE, confidential and tailored to your individual needs.
You do not need a visa or to speak English to access these services. They are there for any woman who is affected by prostitution at any time in her life.
Call them on 01 836 0292 or freetext REACH to 50100,
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) provides free specialised medical care and counselling to women and girls in Ireland who have experienced FGM. Translators can be arranged also. Call 01 872 7088 to make a free appointment at their Dublin clinic or check their website here. They can also be contacted at 085 877 1342
A document on FGM in Ireland for professionals and others can be found here.
If you believe a child is at risk of FGM please find information here on what to do.
Akina Dada wa Africa, or AkiDwA for short, is a national network of migrant women living in Ireland.
Akina Dada wa Africa means sisterhood in Swahili. AkiDwA takes a holistic approach to integration, promoting a migrant and gender-specific approach to public services as well as encouraging migrant women to access mainstream services and initiatives.
The organisation works with migrant women to build their capacity to participate in in all public spheres through training, awareness raising, consultation, focus groups discussions, information provision, research and policy development.
info@akidwa.ie, Phone (0)1 8349851
www.akidwa.ie
The BRIDGE Support Project offers direct support for migrants in Galway city and county.
They provide information, advocacy/self-advocacy training and support, language training through IT skills, health/wellbeing and psychological care.
Contacts are: Tahereh 086 0433376, Obert 086 0470120 or Esther 087 9303468 or email gcp.bridge@gmail.com.
Find out more about them here.
Spirasi (Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative) is the national centre for the rehabilitation of victims of torture in Ireland.
The rehabilitative services offered by Spirasi are unique in Ireland and consist of the following:
Lawyers and Medical Practitioners can refer here: https://spirasi.ie/referrals/
Croi Na Gallimhe is run by St Vincent de Paul in Galway. They provide the following resources to the migrant community:
Contact them on: info@croinagaillimhe.ie, 091 895203 or find them on Facebook
LGBT Ireland is a national organisation underpinned by localised knowledge and responses. Together with our network members, we provide support, training, and advocacy which aims to improve the lives of LGBT+ people across Ireland.
The national LGBT helpline is a freecall on 1800 929 539
The transgender family support line is 01 907 3707, Tuesdays 10am – 12 noon, Sundays 6 – 9 pm.
Their Telefriending Service for people over 50 in the LGBT+ community offers a once a week telephone call by a friendly volunteer, providing friendship, security and support to alleviate loneliness, isolation and improve overall mental health and well-being. Apply here.
For other information and local support groups check out www.lgbt.ie
Galway’s local youth LGBT group shOUT LGBT+ Youth Project is run by Youthwork Ireland.
It is a safe, supportive & fun space for LGBT+ young people, questioning young people and allies aged 13-24 based in Galway.
The project aims to promote a safe space for young people to develop friendships with peers, as well as to provide an experience of inclusion, diversity, acceptance, and social justice. shOUT! also works to address issues and concerns affecting all young people today.
We currently run weekly social groups, activities, one-to-one support, provide LGBT+ information and resources, and LGBT+ inclusion and awareness events.
For any further information contact lisa.cannon@youthworkgalway.ie or shout@youthworkgalway.ie,
or call 087 659 5534, follow on Facebook here, or for more information details here.
AMACH! LGBT Galway represent and advocate on behalf of the LGBT+ community in Galway city and county.
We hold support groups, drop-ins and activities where you can meet new friends, get information and chill with like-minded people.
Amach is also a focal point for delivery of education, training and health programmes in addition to support for individuals identifying as LGBT+ and for those who are ‘coming out’.
Check out what they offer on www.amachlgbt.com or on their instagram, facebook or twitter
OutWest is a Voluntary Social, Support and Advocacy Group for LGBT+ People in Connacht.
The group aims to organise social outings and events several times a year in various venues in the West of Ireland, as well as doing advocacy and awareness work and educational sessions to benefit the LGBT+ community, both in Connacht and on a national level.
Recently, the group has opened a Drop-In Centre for LGBT+ people in Castlebar, Mayo. This serves as a safe social space to give LGBT+ people an opportunity to meet together in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and to discuss group events and LGBT+ issues.
New faces appear regularly and are always welcome.
Check out what they offer on www.outwest.ie
BeLonG To Youth Services is the national organisation supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI+) young people in Ireland.
Since 2003, they have worked with LGBTI+ young people, between 14 and 23 years to offer them specialised LGBTI+ youth service with a focus on mental and sexual health, alongside drug and alcohol support.
They respond to the needs of LGBTI+ young people in Ireland and help them thrive.
Galway City Partnership provides English language classes, employment supports, community education, support for starting a business or a social enterprise and also run the Galway City Tus programme.
Contact them on 091 773 466 or check out their website.
Active* Consent work with 15-24 year olds, teachers, parents, staff and sports organisations to promote a positive and confident approach to sexual health and to equip young people with the tools to recognise and communicate about sexual consent. All available resources are based on data from and developed with young people to ensure they are engaging , relevant and effective. We pilot all our interventions and evaluate their impact.
Active* Consent currently have workshops, a drama and social media content available for both second and third level students that give young people engaging and up-to-date information and skills that are practical and relevant for their own relationships. They also provide facilitator training for second and third level.
Contact activeconsent@nuigalway.ie or visit nuigalway.ie/activeconsent
Dóchas don Óige are a training centre for young people at risk aged 15+. Their missions statement is to reduce offending behaviour, increase pro-social attitude and promote safe integration into own community, while providing space for related services through improved inter-agency co-operation.
Dóchas is based in the Liosbaun Estate in Galway city, the manager Helen Kelly can be contacted on 0879301470 or Helen@dochasdonoige.ie
www.dochasdonoige.ie
Abortion Access Campaign West (AAC West) is a women’s collective based in Galway to ensure that those who need abortion care receive it in a respectful and caring environment that meets their needs.
AAC West is particularly concerned about securing abortion services for marginalised groups and is in regular contact with GPs in the west of Ireland on how abortion services are being implemented.
For further information check out their website here, where you can find information on accessing abortion in Irish, French, Portuguese, Polish, Dutch, Italian, Large Print and audio
The Foundation Programme in Sexual Health Promotion (FPSHP) is a 6-day training programme aimed at service providers wanting to develop their confidence, skills, and knowledge in sexual health promotion or who wish to incorporate sexual health promotion into their work.
It is a free 6-day course delivered across a 3 month period (2 days per month, back to back).
The training days run from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm and attendance at all 6 days is required.
Please contact fiona.falvey@hse.ie for further queries
Galway Rural Development (GRD) is a local development company based in Galway County that provides a range of integrated community supports on the basis of identified needs.
GRD works within communities across County Galway to help those who are most in need of support to access training, employment and education as well as proving support to community group and rural enterprises. We play an active role in a lot of networks to try to make sure that the voices of those we work with are represented in policies and planning at a strategic level.
In 2022 we will be prioritising working with older people and those who are isolated or lonely and people from New Community backgrounds living in County Galway, as well as working on projects to support people with mental health issues.
Our Head Office is based in Mellows Campus, Athenry and we have outreach offices in Ballinasloe, Portumna, Rosmuc and Tuam.
Contact us on 091 844335, e-mail: info@grd.ie and visit our website for more details www.grd.ie
