Acts Fast

Acts Fast is Abused Children’s Trauma Support, Family Advice & Strategy Team. We support Parents and Carers whose child has disclosed they have been sexually abused.

Postal address: Townsend Community Centre, Jewel Road, Townsend, Bournemouth, BH8 0LT
Office: 01202 797217 (Not monitored 24/7)
Text: 07468 694068
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.actsfast.org.uk
Area covered: Bournemouth and Dorset

Support offered:

Telephone support
Email support
Text support

Services for:

Parents and carers

Other Services in the South West

Latest

If You Need Help Now

Rape and sexual violence are horrific and traumatic crimes. Many victims and survivors experience a wide range of emotions after rape or sexual assault and are often too shocked to act in the immediate moments. There is no right or wrong way to react or feel.
Petition: Make all sexual abuse offences exceptions under the double jeopardy rules

"Many victims will never be able to obtain justice or closure from the criminal courts as the law currently stands as their charges are not deemed "serious" or "severe" enough to be an exception to the double jeopardy rules."
Definitions of Sexual Violence

It can be hard to come to terms with what happened and even harder to understand how it is defined in the law. Here are the most current definitions of sexual violence in the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Victim Support NI Foyle

Area covered: Antrim & Newtownabbey, Causeway Coast & Glens, Derry City & Strabane, Fermanagh & Omagh, Mid & East Antrim and Mid-Ulster

Womankind

Female survivors. Area covered: Bristol, South Gloucestershire
First Light

Area covered: Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
The Green House

All survivors. Area covered: Bristol and surrounding areas
Survivors Alliance North Devon

All adult survivors. Area covered: North Devon and UK telephone counselling
Southmead Project

Those who have experienced domestic, sexual, physical and/or emotional abuse as children or as adults and have turned to drugs, alcohol or other ways of self-harming. Area covered: Mainly Bristol and surrounding areas
Self injury Support

Female survivors. Area covered: National
SALT (Sexual Abuse Listening Therapy)

All survivors aged 16+. Area covered: South West of England
Revival Wiltshire RASAC

All survivors aged 13+. Area covered: Wiltshire
Rape & Sexual Abuse Helpline

Helpline and signposting for all survivors aged 16+. Area covered: Devon (county wide)
Oxford Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre

Female survivors. Area covered: Oxfordshire

Petition: Make all sexual abuse offences exceptions under the double jeopardy rules

"Many victims will never be able to obtain justice or closure from the criminal courts as the law currently stands as their charges are not deemed "serious" or "severe" enough to be an exception to the double jeopardy rules."
Right to Review – Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel

TST is recommending member agencies and ISVAs to alert their clients to the new right to review which has just been established by the Crown Prosecution Service and Police. The issue of survivors feeling that their case has not been investigated thoroughly or that perpetrators have not been charged has caused great distress for many survivors over many years.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse: "Law must change" says Rape & CSA Charities

NAPAC (the National Association for People Abused in Childhood) is leading a coalition of charities in the call for legislation to introduce ‘Mandatory reporting’. The law would make failure to report suspected or known child abuse in ‘Regulated Activities’ a criminal offence. Regulated Activities include schools, sports clubs linked to national sports bodies, children’s homes and faith organisations*.
Boarding Concern

Boarding Concern supports people who were harmed or abused whilst at boarding school.
Accessibility
Definitions of Sexual Violence

It can be hard to come to terms with what happened and even harder to understand how it is defined in the law. Here are the most current definitions of sexual violence in the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Aurora Foundation for People Abused in Childhood

Adult survivors of childhood abuse aged 18+.
Trust House Reading

All survivors. Area covered: Berkshire wide
Axis Counselling (Telford Office)

All survivors aged 11+. Area covered: Shrewsbury, Telford, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and the Welsh borders
Nottingham Counselling Service

All survivors. Area covered: Nottinghamshire