The Survivors Trust runs a free, national helpline 7 days a week for people aged 16+. We welcome and encourage all survivors of rape or sexual abuse and violence to call our helpline. We are a fully inclusive service, providing safe, non-judgemental support to survivors, their supporters and professionals.

When you call us, you'll be warmly greeted by one of our specially trained helpline workers who are there to listen and support you. We give you the time and space to talk about whatever you need to. 

Call our free, confidential helpline on 0808 801 0818 
(Calls to 0808 80 numbers are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemised bills)

Helpline opening hours:

We are sorry to announce the closure of our online Live Chat Service. Our helpline team are will still available for emotional support, information and signposting via our helpline (0808 801 0818) or by emailing [email protected]

Helpline Feedback
We’re keen to find out how we can improve our helpline services and better meet callers needs.  Please only answer questions that you feel safe and comfortable to do so.  All responses will be combined and anonymised and will not be shared outside of the Survivors Trust. There are 17 questions in all and the survey can be completed in 5 – 10 minutes. We really appreciate your help. Click here to share your feedback>>  

Voicemails
For busy and closed times, our helpline does offer a voicemail service where you can leave your contact information for a call back from one of our helpline workers.

FAQS

Can any survivor call the helpline?
Yes, we welcome calls from survivors of all ages, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations and walks of life. No matter when this took place, we're here to support you. We invite calls from the LGBTQ+ community, including trans-men, trans-women and non-binary survivors. 

What support does The Survivors Trust helpline provide?
We offer a safe space where we provide information, signposting, advice and emotional support. 

Will I have to talk about what has happened?
No, we will never ask you to talk about what has happened to you. We are here to listen to you and let you lead the conversation, you can tell us as little or as much as you want to.

Are calls confidential?
The Survivors Trust helpline is an anonymous service. You do not need to give us your name or any contact details to start a call or chat. We won’t share your information or what you tell us without your agreement, except in the rare event that we believe that someone is at risk of serious or immediate harm, or if we are instructed to by a court of law.

Telephone Confidentiality
Can you see who I am?
During a call, the Call Handler is not able to see your phone number. Members of our Helpline Management Team may be able to see your number.

Are calls recorded?
Yes, all calls are recorded for monitoring and training purposes.  These recordings are kept for 45 days only, unless a safeguarding concern is raised. Only the Helpline Management Team has access to any recordings and may listen to calls for monitoring purposes.

Emails ([email protected])
Can you see who I am?
Your email address will be seen by Members of our Helpline Management Team who reply to all emails. 

Are emails recorded?
All emails are stored for 45 days only, unless a safeguarding concern has been raised. Only the Helpline Management Team has access to emails and may monitor replies to gather information for mandatory reporting.

Sharing information with other agencies
We do not share or make referrals to other agencies without your permission unless safeguarding concerns are raised – please see breaking confidentiality without consent.

Breaking confidentiality without consent
In extremely rare cases, we may need to share personal information without getting your consent. This could be in situations where:

• You share information that identifies a child or vulnerable adult who is at risk of serious harm.
• You appear to be unable to give consent or become unconscious during the chat.
• You threaten the safety of our staff or make specific threats of harm towards anyone else.
• There is a legal requirement to provide information following receipt of a court order that requires us to share information.
• We receive information about an imminent act of terrorism or similar risk to life.

Even if you do not give us your name, contact details or location during the chat, we may have access to your device’s IP address or your phone number.

I am not sure if what happened to me was sexual assault. Can I still call?
Absolutely. At The Survivors Trust we will do our best to answer any questions you may have regarding consent or sexual assault. Using the legal definitions provided by UK law, we can provide you with the information you need to understand what has happened. We admire the strength and bravery it takes to ask questions around sexual assault. It is not an easy topic but we are always here to offer support.