Helpful tools
My Support Space is a free, safe, secure and confidential online resource provided by Victim Support designed to help you manage the impact that crime has had on you. These support resources are also appropriate for victims and survivors of abuse. My Support Space contains interactive guides covering a range of topics such as sleep, trauma, difficult emotions and wellbeing. Each guide contains videos, techniques, activities and tips, and can be completed at your own pace.
You can also create an online diary, find useful resources and request direct support.
Create your free account here
Royal College of Psychiatrists: This link provides detailed information on post-traumatic stress disorder.
Website: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/post-traumatic-stress-disorder
It’s Good to Talk is a place full of positivity, tips and chit chat. In their podcast, they want to give you a safe space, so join them, and their guest each week for a chat, because it’s good to talk!
Website: https://anchor.fm/itsgoodtotalk
Reporting abuse
Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency:
The Catholic Standards Safeguarding Agency CSSA is a new central agency that has been created as the professional standards body to which all Catholic Dioceses and Religious Life Groups in England and Wales will be accountable. This replaces the current Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) and National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC). The CSSA is under the responsibility of an independent management board, and led by a CEO for day-to-day operations
CSSA's website is currently under construction and will be updated as soon as possible for now the CSAS website is still in operation.
Website: CSAS – Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service
The Church of England Safeguarding: There are Safeguarding Advisers in every diocese and Safeguarding Officers in every parish. If you are worried about someone, please contact your Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser. The link below will take you to the relevant website where there is contact information.
Website: https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding
Email: safeguarding@churchofengland.org
The Church in Wales Safeguarding promote the wellbeing of children and adults at risk, raise awareness of safeguarding within the church, work to prevent abuse or harm from occurring and seek to protect and respond well to those that have been abused.
Website: https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/safeguarding/
Reporting guide - your guide on reporting non-recent child sexual abuse to the police in the UK
This is a guide prepared by Operation Hydrant which tells you what to expect when reporting to the police. You can view this here.
Agencies supporting victims of church related abuse
MACSAS supports women and men who have been sexually abused as children or adults by ministers, clergy or others under the guise of the church. MACSAS support both survivors who have remained within their Christian communities and those who have left. They offer a telephone and email helpline.
Phone: 0808 801 0340
Email: support@macsas.org.uk
Website: https://www.macsas.org.uk/
Replenished Life aims to provide a safe place and space for survivors of spiritual abuse/coercive control in a religious setting. They facilitate safe spaces for survivors to explore the next steps on their journey to recovery and signpost survivors to services and resources available to aid them in their journey.
Phone: 07746 153 703
Email: simonandcaroline@replenished.life
Website: https://www.replenished.life
Survivors Voices supports anyone who has experienced abuse, trauma or violence as a child or an adult. Survivor’s voices also recognise the needs of people supporting survivors in non-professional roles, as peers, partners, family members and friends.They offer peer support and enlightened self-help through their private Facebook group, informal gatherings and the London Survivors Group
Website: https://survivorsvoices.org
thirtyone:eight are an independent Christian safeguarding charity which helps individuals, organisations, charities, faith and community groups to protect vulnerable people from abuse.
Website: https://thrityoneeight.org