Last year, we supported the Safe Relationships Project. The research project explored how experiences of childhood maltreatment can influence intimate relationships later in life, and the things that can help people with these experiences build safe and fulfilling relationships. We’re pleased to be able to share the findings of this...

We are pleased to share a discussion paper commissioned by Traumatic Stress Wales and developed by The Survivors Trust. This comprehensive paper explores how services across Wales can better support victims and survivors through trauma-informed approaches. What’s inside the paper? The discussion paper brings together a wide range of evidence...

IICSA was  a statutory inquiry for England and Wales, established in 2015 under the Inquiries Act 2005. Its independence meant that the Inquiry was not part of any government department.  The Inquiry’s remit was wide-ranging, but as a statutory inquiry it had the unique authority to compel witnesses and request any material...

This film highlights how difficult it can be to disclose childhood sexual abuse. It is based on interviews with people who are recovering from childhood sexual abuse. The creation of this film was inspired by Dr Claire Cunnington’s Wellcome Trust funded research at the University of Sheffield and the film...

A new report by the Victims’ Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC, examines the provision of protections for vulnerable and intimidated victims, known as ‘special measures.’ The Commissioner found the current system is not working as well as it could with victims and witnesses falling through the gaps and not being...

Following an unprecedented rise in the volume of survivors of sexual abuse and sexual violence seeking help, The Survivors Trust were funded by NHS England to hold a conference which provided a unique opportunity for specialist rape and sexual abuse service providers and service users to meet with and influence...

This paper highlights important considerations for Research Ethics Committees on the importance of preserving confidentiality of disclosures by adults of non-recent abuse. Researchers in the UK have no legal or ethical duty to report disclosures of previously unreported non-recent CSA by their participants. This paper recommends that reports should not...

In this article in the Journal of Gender-Based Violence, Clare Gunby et al reflect on the framing of violence against women in mainstream media in the UK, and some policy documents and guidance, in the first four weeks of the COVID-19 induced lockdown. In so doing, they consider the implications...

Following research undertaken into how Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) engage victims / survivors and stakeholders, NHS England has published the ‘What Works; patient and stakeholder engagement for Sexual Assault Referral Centres’ report. It is intended to help SARCs collect and share feedback on patient involvement and identifies learning from...

This dissertation and research written by Imogen Cheatham examines why acts of sexual violence continue to be under-reported as a crime, finding that perhaps the most significant reasons why women and girls do not report sexual violence is caused by rape myths, stereotypes and victim blaming narratives that are not...

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) was created in November 2018 by Sarah Champion MP and The Survivors Trust, and contained members from across the Commons and Lords. The APPG worked to highlight the needs of adult survivors of child sexual abuse across the country, and to give a voice to...