What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm Thursday 9am - 4:30pm Friday 9am - 3:30pm

The STAR Centre

The STAR Centre is Ayrshire’s R**e Crisis Centre. Providing free confidential support to survivors of s*xual violence.

Our services are available to survivors from aged 13 years and over, no matter when the abuse has happened in their lives

01/09/2026

“Revenge porn” is a misnomer.

The term suggests that sharing intimate images without consent is an act of “revenge”, implying that the person whose image has been shared has somehow done something to deserve it. They haven’t.

It is never the survivor’s fault.

People can consensually send intimate photos to each other, sometimes regularly and as part of a relationship. Choosing to send someone a photo means consenting to that person receiving it. It does not mean consenting to that photo being shared with anyone else.

Consent is specific. The recipient is responsible for respecting the consent that was given. Sharing, posting or forwarding an intimate image without consent is a choice made by the person who shares it.

We use the term image-based s*xual abuse (IBSA) because it better describes what is happening and the harm caused.

**eCrisisAyrshireAndArran

31/08/2026

📚️ With the beginning of the new academic year, we have taken the opportunity to look back on our prevention work over the past year.

During 2025-26, we had the privilege of working with 4,640 young people across 232 workshops, creating spaces for young people to learn, ask questions, and have open conversations about healthy relationships, consent, and s*xual violence.

We've received some really positive feedback, with young people telling us our workshops have helped them feel more confident talking about consent, understand how power dynamics can influence relationships, and more confident in challenging the attitudes and behaviours they see around them.

Prevention starts with conversations - by giving young people the opportunity to develop their knowledge, challenge harmful attitudes, and think critically about relationships, we can support them to make informed choices and recognise what healthy relationships can look and feel like.

Our free workshops are available to schools, youth groups, colleges, and universities across Ayrshire. To find out more or to book a workshop, get in touch with The STAR Centre at [email protected].

27/08/2026

✨ Stopping violence against women is everyone's business ✨

We all have a role to play in challenging the attitudes, behaviours, and inequalities that allow violence to happen.

This can mean speaking up when we hear s*xist or harmful comments, challenging victim-blaming, promoting healthy relationships and consent, educating ourselves, and supporting survivors with compassion and without judgement.

We all have a responsibility to challenge violence, change harmful attitudes, and help create a world where everyone feels safe, respected, and heard.

Together, we can challenge violence and be part of the change 💜

26/08/2026

Boundaries are more than saying “no.” They are about knowing what feels safe, comfortable and right for you, and having the freedom to communicate that without fear of being punished, pressured or made to feel guilty.

You are allowed to change your mind.
You are allowed to say no.
You are allowed to leave.
You are allowed to ask someone to stop.
You are allowed to decide what happens to your body, your time, your space and your relationships.

And importantly, you do not have to justify a boundary for it to be valid.

A healthy relationship respects boundaries, even when someone doesn’t understand them or wouldn’t make the same choice themselves. Someone being disappointed by your boundary does not make your boundary unreasonable.

When another person repeatedly ignores, pushes, challenges or decides your boundaries for you, that isn't respect; it's control.

If someone has crossed your boundaries, pressured you, or made you feel that you weren't allowed to say no, please remember: it isn't your fault.

You don't have to navigate what happened alone. 💜 Our team is here to offer confidential, non-judgemental support to people affected by s*xual violence. You don't need to have all the answers, and you don't have to know exactly what you need before reaching out.

If you need us, we're here to listen, support you and help you take things at your own pace.

Your boundaries matter. Your voice matters. You matter. 💜

**eCrisisAyrshireAndArran

25/08/2026

"It didn't leave a mark." That doesn't mean it was safe.

Many people call it "choking" during s*x, but the correct term is strangulation. Choking is when something blocks the airway from the inside, like food. Strangulation is when pressure is applied to the neck from the outside.

Strangulation during s*x is becoming increasingly normalised. Yet there is *no* safe way to strangle someone.

Pressure to the neck can reduce blood flow and oxygen to the brain, increasing the risk of brain injury, stroke, loss of consciousness and, in some cases, death. These injuries can happen without bruising or visible marks.

Strangulation also raises important questions about consent.

Consent should be informed, freely given and ongoing. Many people are unaware of the serious risks associated with strangulation, meaning they may not have the information needed to make an informed decision. Once pressure is applied to the neck, a person may also be unable to speak, breathe normally or communicate that they want the activity to stop. This can make it difficult, or impossible, to withdraw consent in the moment.

There are no visible signs that can tell you whether strangulation was "safe", because there is no safe way to do it.

If you have experienced strangulation during s*x and are worried about your health, seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you feel fine. Some injuries may not become apparent until hours or days later.

Everyone deserves intimacy built on trust, communication and respect, not activities that carry a risk of life-changing injury.

If this post raises concerns for you or someone you know, our team is here to listen and support you.

**eCrisisAyrshireAndArran

21/08/2026

The STAR Centre is here for you. Always.

If you or someone you know needs support you can call us on 01563 544 686 or visit our website: starcentreayrshire.org

**eCrisisAyrshireAndArran

20/08/2026

Fawning: A Trauma Response.

When we talk about responses to trauma, we often hear about fight, flight, or freeze. But, there is another response that is just as important to understand: fawning.

Fawning can look like agreeing, going along with something, people-pleasing, apologising, or trying to keep someone happy in a situation where you don't feel safe.

Because it can look like cooperation from the outside, fawning is sometimes wrongly interpreted as consent.

But - Fawning is not consent.

A trauma response can happen automatically when someone feels threatened, overwhelmed or unsafe; it is our brains trying to keep us alive and safe in dangerous situations - we don't get to choose these in the moment. Someone may respond in a way that helps them get through the situation - even when what is happening isn't something they want.

Understanding trauma responses can help us challenge victim-blaming and create more compassion for survivors.

If you have experienced s*xual violence, you are not alone, support is available at The STAR Centre.

17/08/2026

Consider this our kind of chic. 💜
Creating spaces where people feel heard, listened to and supported matters. So does knowing where to turn when you need help, whether that’s for yourself or someone you care about.
We're here for you.
**eCrisisAyrshireAndArran

14/08/2026

📢 We’re hiring: Prevention Worker

We’re looking for a Prevention Worker to join The STAR Centre and deliver the National Prevention Programme to young people from S1–S6 across schools, further education establishments and youth projects throughout North, East and South Ayrshire.

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about preventing s*xual violence and committed to challenging the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to it. You’ll play an important role in delivering education that promotes healthy relationships, consent, respect and equality.

📍 Based at Kilmarnock, with outreach across Ayrshire
🕐 Full time – 35 hours per week
💷 £34,307 per annum + 6% pension contribution
🌴 40 days’ annual leave, including public holidays

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference to young people through engaging, preventative work.

Only women need apply for this post. The post is exempt under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Closes: 29/08

Interested? Check out: https://goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP1000001uBkzIAE/prevention-and-education-worker

11/08/2026

🚨 AI should never become a tool for abuse.

AI is transforming the way we live and work - but it is also being misused to perpetrate s*xual violence.

From deepfake intimate images to online s*xual harassment - technology-facilitated abuse is a growing issue with very real consequences. The impact can be devastating, affecting survivor's wellbeing and their sense of control.

As technology continues to evolve, so must our understanding of abuse. Sexual violence does not only happen face-to-face - it can happen through a screen, an app, or a manipulated image. The harm is equally as serious.

If you or someone you know has experienced s*xual violence, in person, or online, support is available through The STAR Centre 💜

Address

40a Portland Road
Kilmarnock
KA12DL

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 4:30pm
Friday	9am - 3:30pm

Website

https://www.starcentreayrshire.org/

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