Our Work

The need for the work of The Survivors Trust is greater than ever before. Living in the wake of the #MeToo movement, victims and survivors of sexual violence have never been more aware of their rights. Reporting and demand upon support services are at an all-time high.

Our member agencies provide a range of specialist services to survivors including counselling, support, helplines and advocacy services for women, men and children. These agencies are mostly charities and are completely independent of the police.

Our services provide the best quality support available to survivors in the UK. Of survivors that accessed both Government funded and voluntary sector support services (our member agencies), 72% were more satisfied with their treatment at voluntary sector organisations. Survivors using voluntary services felt heard, believed and respected 92% of the time compared with 62% with the Police and 38% with Social Services. (Hear me. Believe me. Respect me. 2015.)

Although it is clear that our agencies are providing effective and life-changing care, 5% have had to close due to a lack of funding in the last 3 years. Some of these agencies had been open for over 10 years.

The Survivors Trust provides infrastructure support, networking and representation for our member agencies so that they can provide the best quality support to survivors of sexual violence as well as contribute to policy changes that can keep them open. We raise up the voices of our member agencies and their clients to push for support for ALL survivors of all types of sexual violence, no matter when it happened to them or how old they are. All of our member agencies work in line with our National Service Standards which provide assurance of consistent quality service delivery based on a survivor empowerment and involvement ethos.

Our Work

We provide infrastructure support, networking and representation for our member agencies that provide a range of direct services to survivors including counselling, support, helplines and advocacy services for women, men and children
We provide free and confidential support and information to survivors of all types of sexual violence
We deliver accredited training to members, government agencies, police, health professionals and schools that promotes sensitive and informed responses to survivors
We raise awareness about rape and sexual abuse and its effect on survivors, their supporters and society at large
We promote effective responses to rape and sexual abuse on a local, regional and national level
We support working in ways that
- demonstrate understanding of the role of gender in the impact of sexual violence and abuse on women, men and children
- demonstrate a commitment to supporting survivors equally regardless of their gender, background or experience

What we Have Achieved so Far with your Support

Over the last ten years:

We have set up five new rape support centres
We successfully lobbied for a three-year support fund for member organisations
We have supported lobbying and campaigning for the Independent Enquiry into Sexual Abuse
Our organisational membership has doubled to 130
We established the all-party parliamentary group for adult survivors of sexual abuse
We developed an accredited training package for Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and have trained 200 ISVAs
We have established national service standards
We have joined and taken active roles in national steering groups in the Crown Prosecution Service, NHS, Ministry of Justice, Home Office among others
Provided key inputs into Raped, an award-winning Channel 5 documentary. This film is now used nationally in training
We have conducted Consent and the Law training in schools
We developed links with Broadchurch and Thirteen Reasons Why to provide support and to ensure the honesty of the storylines
We were funded by the NHS to run a conference that brought together survivors, commissioners and member organisations, out of which the report Survivors’ Journeys, Survivors Voices was produced. This has been disseminated across Whitehall

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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

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."
Find Specialist Support in your Area

The Survivors Trust has 129 member organisations based in the UK & Ireland which provide specialist support for women, men & children who have survived rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse.
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.
Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC)

SARCs (sexual assault referral centres) are specialist medical and forensic services for anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted. They are designed to be comfortable and multi-functional, providing private space for interviews and forensic examinations, and some may also offer sexual health and counselling services.
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
Axis Counselling (Telford Office)

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

All survivors. Area covered: Nottinghamshire