ACT on IICSA
Who we are
ACT on IICSA (pronounced ick-sar) is an independent campaign group made up of key leaders from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and CEOs from across the sexual violence sector. Together, we are united in holding the UK Government to account for fully implementing all 20 of IICSA’s final recommendations and delivering the systemic change needed to prevent child sexual abuse, protect children, and transform the response to survivors.
With the direct endorsement of IICSA’s leadership, ACT on IICSA is uniquely placed to drive this change. We unite those who led the Inquiry with those who deliver frontline services every day, combining deep expertise, evidence, and survivor insight to demand meaningful action.
Our core steering group includes:
- Professor Alexis Jay CBE, Chair of IICSA throughout its duration
- John O’Brien CBE, Secretary to the Inquiry
- Fay Maxted OBE, CEO of The Survivors Trust, Consultant to IICSA
- Lucy Duckworth, Policy Advisor to The Survivors Trust, Consultant to IICSA
- David Greenwood, Solicitor and Director at Switalskis, expert witness to IICSA
See the latest updates from ACT on IICSA
They are joined by a wider steering group of CEOs and leaders from the specialist sexual violence sector. Many are survivors themselves, now qualified in various disciplines in the field providing frontline services to children, young people and adult survivors of all forms of institutional and sexual abuse. Their professional expertise, grounded in lived experience, brings unique insight into where statutory systems fail and how they must be reformed.
They are:
Daisy Anderson, CEO, Guilford RASASC
Chris Braitch, Founding Director, Seen & Heard
Mags Godderidge, CEO, Survive
Duncan Craig OBE, CEO, We Are Survivors
Lucy Hughes, CEO, Mankind UK
Together, we are committed to seeing every recommendation from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) implemented in full without further delay, because:
- Respect: IICSA spent 8 years of rigorous research, expertise, and public investment, as well as the tireless work of thousands of professionals and the 7,500 victims and survivors who shared their testimony. To delay or dilute its recommendations dishonours that time, effort and those voices.
- Change: The survivors we work with everyday are clear: they do not only want support and accountability for past harm, they want systemic reform to protect current and future generations from sexual abuse, whether it happens in families, institutions, or organised networks. (commonly referred to as grooming gangs)
We know that implementing these recommendations in full will be a decisive step towards keeping all children safe from sexual harm and providing meaningful support for survivors, regardless of the context of the sexual abuse.
Survivors have already done their part. Now the government must do theirs.
Funding Transparency
All members of ACT on IICSA participate on a voluntary basis. A small grant of £8,000 has been received to support core costs such as travel to meetings and events. Any costs exceeding this amount have been covered by The Survivors Trust.
What we do
ACT on IICSA monitors government action and inaction in response to the Inquiry’s recommendations, engages directly with departments such as the Home Office, Department for Education, Department of Health and Social Care, and Ministry of Justice, and provides transparent public updates on progress. We meet with ministers responsible for implementing IICSA’s recommendations to encourage action without further delay.
We aim to ensure that the voices of victims and survivors are central to policy decisions and that government responses lead to real, structural change. We use the evidence already gathered through the comprehensive IICSA, we can’t ignore its findings.
You can get involved in the following ways:
- Download and share our IICSA progress tracker
- Download and share our guide – “Language to use when discussing IICSA”
- Want to be more involved? Email us at ActOnIICSA@thesurvivorstrust.org to use your expertise and join our wider steering group.