Sheila Coates MBE

Sheila is an Honorary Visiting Fellow who was part of IPPPRI's Victim and Survivor Consultative Panel (VSCP).

Background

In 1984, Sheila established SERICC – Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Services – based in Essex. SERICC is the lead partner of the Synergy Essex Rape Crisis Partnership, providing 33,890 one-to-one counselling sessions from April 2021-March 2022.

Sheila was a SERICC Counsellor for ten years, providing support to survivors of sexual violence and abuse in the community and women's prisons. She also represented the victim's perspective to convicted sex offenders while working alongside Essex Probation.

As the SERICC Director and External Relations Advisor for Rape Crisis England and Wales, Sheila has played a significant role in regularly collaborating with government departments and ministers. She served on the VSCP for over seven years.

Throughout her 30+ year career, she has been a passionate advocate for survivors' rights. She continues to campaign for the increase in specialist support services and appropriate responses to, and understanding of, the impact of child sexual abuse on victims and survivors and their needs.