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 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

TST update on Covid-19 and tips to get through

Due to Covid-19 many of our members and other support services are closing their face to face services and operating differently in accordance with advice from the UK Government.
Consultation on Improving the Victims’ Code

The Government now want to hear what you have to say about their proposed changes. This consultation is the next step in improving the experience of victims within the justice system and will pave the way for a Victims’ Law that will guarantee victims their rights.
APPG of Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse launches final report: Can adult survivors of CSA access justice and support?

On Tuesday 11 February 2020, the APPG published the final report resulting from its year long inquiry into survivors’ experiences of accessing support and the criminal justice system.
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.

National Helplines
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.
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.
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.
About Sexual Violence & Abuse

Sexual violence and abuse is any behaviour of a sexual nature which is unwanted and takes place without consent or understanding. This includes rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, childhood sexual abuse, female genital mutilation and more.
TST update on Covid-19 and tips to get through

Due to Covid-19 many of our members and other support services are closing their face to face services and operating differently in accordance with advice from the UK Government.
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.
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.
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."
Who We Are

The Survivors Trust is the largest umbrella agency for specialist sexual violence support services in Europe. Our 129 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.