The Survivors Trust

Who we are

The Survivors Trust is the largest membership organisation for specialist rape and sexual abuse and experienced professionals. Our core aim is to ensure that society supports all survivors effectively and takes responsibility for ending sexual violence. 

• 15% of girls and 5% of boys have experienced sexual violence by the time they are sixteen.
• Every five minutes in the UK someone experiences rape, attempted rape or sexual assault by penetration.  And that is only adults.

The need for specialist support services for survivors is essential.

The impact of sexual violence of any form, whether experienced as an adult or as a child, can be devastating and can last a lifetime. 

Survivors can suffer from a wide range of physical and mental health problems as a result of being sexually violated, affecting every aspect of their health, their lives, relationships, education and career.  

TST works to raise awareness about the support survivors need and the work of the sexual violence sector in providing this crucial help.

TST is in the unique position of having member agencies that are working with all victims and survivors of sexual violence and sexual abuse.  We are well aware of the issues facing organisations that are delivering trauma informed services and can support them and policy makers and commissioners to understand how services need to be developed and provided.

We want to see a world where survivors can easily get all the support, therapy, advice and information they need to enable them to reclaim their lives, be able to feel they have had justice for the awful experiences they have been through and can move on to live their lives free from the aftermath of trauma.  This means ensuring that specialist rape and sexual abuse services are properly resourced to deliver the services that survivors choose and tell us they prefer.

What we do:

• Raise awareness about rape and sexual abuse and its effect on survivors, their supporters and society at large
• Support and networking for our Member Agencies including holding Regional Meetings and Specialist Forums for practitioners
• We run a busy national helpline for victims and survivors, their families, supporters and also professionals working with survivors
• Attend national groups and forums, promoting effective responses to rape and sexual abuse
• We provide a voice for victims and survivors of all forms of sexual violence
• Respond to consultations
• Survey Member Agencies on current issues
• Deliver accredited training to Members, government agencies, police, health    professionals and schools
• We provide National Service Standards for specialist rape and sexual abuse support services
• Our supportline offers advice, information and support for anyone affected by sexual violence

Our culture and values

Our core aim is to ensure that society supports all survivors effectively and takes responsibility for ending sexual violence.

Our belief is that all survivors are entitled to have the support, justice and compensation they are entitled to.

Our values - we support working in ways that:

• Empower survivors
• Demonstrate a commitment  to supporting survivors equally regardless of their gender, background or experience
• Demonstrate understanding of the role of gender in the impact of sexual violence and abuse on women, men and children

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

The Survivors Trust (TST) recognises that many people in our society experience discrimination or lack of opportunity for a variety of reasons. These include: race, religion, nationality and ethnicity, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability (including mental illness), health status, marital status, responsibility for/relationship to dependants, appearance, geographical location, social class, income level or criminal record.

The Survivors Trust will challenge discrimination and lack of opportunity in its own policy and practice and will help other organisations and individuals to do the same. The Survivors Trust aims to create a culture that respects and values each others’ differences and similarities. The Survivors Trust sees diversity as an asset to our work improves our ability to meet the needs of the organisations and people we serve.

The Survivors Trust is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.

As an organisation using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checking service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, The Survivors Trust complies fully with the Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. It undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a DBS check on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed. All volunteers, employees, committee members and member organisations must declare their support for the objectives of this Equality and diversity policy. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action and/or ineligibility for membership.