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The Silicon Valley-style start-up targeting rape survivors at UK universities

Launching in Bristol, Enough vowed to be the ‘breathalyser of rape’. But can fem tech really ‘deter’ sexual violence?

By Sian Norris and Lucy H Watson
The Silicon Valley-style start-up targeting rape survivors at UK universities
The Enough campaign aims to deter rape on campus, using a combination of DNA kits and online reporting | James Battershill
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It was a classic Silicon Valley success story. Katie White met Tom Allchurch and the pair started talking about an idea that would become their start-up. The year was 2023, and White was a 27-year-old brand consultant from Oxford, England, living in San Francisco. Allchurch, the father of one of her friends, was a highly successful English tech entrepreneur based in New York.

“Katie came straight out with the name, and it was [a] word-perfect explanation of the idea,” Allchurch subsequently recalled on an Instagram livestream. “And I looked at her and thought, oh my God, that is so brilliant. And it was pretty much at that moment that I just thought, well, this is going to work.”

Two years on and three thousands miles away, White’s idea is well underway. It’s a Wednesday night in Bristol, England, and small groups of young volunteers wearing bright orange T-shirts emblazoned with the word ‘Enough’ are heading out into the city’s thriving student nightlife to offer unsuspecting partygoers self-swab DIY rape kits.

If you or someone you know is affected by the issues raised in this article, the following organisations can help:

Rape Crisis England & Wales

Confidential support and information to women who have survived any form of sexual violence, no matter how long ago. Also provides immediate support to friends and family on how to support female survivors of sexual violence.

Phone: 0808 802 9999 (12–2:30pm & 7–9:30pm daily). Website: Rape Crisis

Rape Crisis Scotland

Confidential support for anyone affected by sexual violence, no matter when or how it happened. They can also put you in touch with local rape crisis centres.

Phone: 0808 801 03 02. Website: Rape Crisis Scotland

Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline – Northern Ireland

Free support, advice and referral for any victim or domestic and sexual abuse in Northern Ireland.

Phone: 0808 802 1414 (24/7). Website: Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline

NHS Sexual Assault Referral Centres

England & Wales: Visit the NHS website

Scotland: Visit the NHS inform website

The Survivors Trust

Support and signposting for women, men and children who are survivors of rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse.

Phone: 0808 801 0818. Website: The Survivors Trust

Survivors UK

Support for men and non-binary survivors of sexual abuse via an online helpline, counselling, Independent Sexual Violence Advisers, plus group and peer support services.

Website: Survivors UK

Samaritans

For anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.

Phone: 116 123. Email: jo@samaritans.org. Website: Samaritans

Victim Support

Emotional and practical help to victims or witnesses of any crime, whether or not it has been reported to the police.

Phone: 0808 16 89 111 (24/7). Website: Victim Support

Victim Support Scotland

Emotional and practical support to all victims and witnesses of crime across Scotland.

Phone: 0800 160 1985 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm). Website: Victim Support Scotland

Victim Support NI

Emotional and practical support to all victims and witnesses of crime across Northern Ireland.

Phone: 028 9024 3133. Website: Victim Support NI

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