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, non-binary people 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, non-binary people 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 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 around 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

Lancashire Victim Services ISVA

Area covered: Lancashire
A historic victory amongst disheartening stats

Yesterday was a big day for survivors and those that work with them. We saw the release of data showing that rape convictions are at a record low in England and Wales along with the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) unveiling of a five-year blueprint to attempt to rectify this. On top of this, the End Violence Against Women (EVAW) Coalition and the Centre for Women’s Justice won a landmark case against the CPS, granting them the opportunity for a full judicial review.
Respond Birmingham

Survivors with learning disabilities. Area Covered: Midlands
One in Four (Kent Branch)

All survivors aged 4+. Area covered: Kent

Find Specialist Support in your Area

The Survivors Trust has 124 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.
I didn't marry a monster

Marital ‘rape’ is a hidden recurring issue which people, mostly women, are reluctant to open up about. This video created by Ola and her partner Olu highlights the taboo issue and reminds those affected that help is available.
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.
Taking care of yourself & I May Destroy You

It feels like everyone is talking about Michaela Coel’s newest creation I May Destroy You, a drama based on her experience of sexual assault. We want to offer up some tips for survivors thinking of watching the show as well as discuss some of the important topics covered in the series.
National Helplines
I Am A Survivor

Calais talks about her experience, and shares the message 'if you are suffering you’re not alone and although it’s hard, you will get through this'
TST Supportline hours extended

Thanks to funding from the MoJ COVID-19 Response Fund our free national Supportline is now open 7 days a week. We're here to talk, to listen and to believe.
My Experience of EMDR & Treating Trauma

Steph talks about how Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy helped her to heal after her experience of rape.
The Effects of Sexual Violence

The long-term effects of sexual violence (whether that is childhood sexual abuse, sexual harassment, rape etc.) can include many emotional, psychological and physical conditions. The experience of sexual assault or abuse at any age and whether male or female can have devastating effects on every aspect of a person’s being and life – on their mind, their body, their behaviour, thoughts and feelings.
Who We Are

The Survivors Trust is the largest umbrella agency for specialist sexual violence support services in Europe. Our 124 agencies provide information, advice, support and therapy to over 80,000 individual survivors each year. Our services work with victims and survivors of all ages, male and female, of all forms of sexual violence, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.