The Survivors Trust @survivorstrust

What is TST?

The Survivors Trust (TST) is a national umbrella agency for over 135 specialist rape, sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse support organisations throughout the UK and Ireland.

Our Trustee Board is exclusively made up of Managers and Directors of rape and sexual abuse support services. Our core aim is to empower survivors or rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse through supporting and improving effective responses to survivors. Member organisations provide a range of direct services to survivors including counselling, support, helplines and advocacy services for women, men and children.

We provide support and networking for member agencies; deliver accredited training; raise awareness about rape and sexual abuse and its effect on survivors, their supporters and society at large; promote effective responses to rape and sexual abuse on a local, regional and national level.

TST supports working in ways that recognise human rights and dignity; demonstrate understanding of the role of gender in the impact of sexual violence and abuse on women and men; appreciate the variety of human experience and culture; demonstrate a commitment to showing justice in dealing with all others; and encourage development and improvement of responses to all survivors.

The TST Mission Statement…

We believe that the rape and sexual violence of children and adults is endemic within our society. Together we are committed to empowering survivors and their supporters to work through and beyond the experience of abuse.

The TST Core Belief…

We believe that the sexual abuse and/or rape of girls, boys, women and men is preventable and we challenge society to acknowledge both its reality and our individual and collective responsibility for it.

The TST Core Aims…

To support and empower survivors of rape, sexual violence and/or childhood sexual abuse through

• Providing a collective voice and peer networking for members;
• Raising awareness about sexual abuse and/or rape and its effects on survivors, their supporters and society at large
• Informing acknowledgement of, and effective responses to, rape and sexual abuse on a local, regional and 
• national level

INFORMATION FOR SURVIVORS

This page offers information for survivors of rape, sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse.

Please note that a full list of  TST member agencies can be found here along with details of  National Helplines for Survivors here.

A list of Independent Sexual Violence Advisors working in England and Wales can be found by clicking here

Details of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) can be found by clicking here

Further information on resources and reading materials available for survivors of rape or sexual abuse can be found or our Resources page or by clicking here.

The impact of childhood sexual abuse, sexual violence and rape

The long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse, sexual violence and rape 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.

The following list includes some of the effects now being recognised and acknowledged as the consequences of childhood sexual abuse, sexual violence or rape on many victims and survivors. The Survivors Trust wants to stress that it is not inevitable that all victims will suffer from all effects – the mix, severity and complexity is a unique experience for each individual.

Post Traumatic Stress symptoms

Depression
Anxiety
Dissociation
Flashbacks
Nightmares
Irritability and outbursts of anger
Suicidal Thoughts
Suicide
Alcohol Misuse and dependence
Sexual problems
Confusion about sexuality

Eating Disorders

Self-injury and self harming behaviour
Transient psychotic episodes
Borderline Personality Disorder
Dissociative Identity disorder
Somatisation – Emotional distress experienced as physical pain
Increased rates of physical conditions like heart disease and cancer

Homelessness

Revictimisation
Prostitution
Criminal behaviour (including for a small minority sexual offences)
Low self-esteem
Lack of confidence
Sleep Problems
Parenting Problems
Relationship Problems

If you are a victim or survivor of sexual violence, rape or childhood sexual abuse, the thought that you may be affected in any of the above ways may be frightening and daunting. Member groups of The Survivors Trust have the professional expertise and empathic understanding necessary to help survivors meet the challenges and difficulties they are experiencing as a result of abuse or rape.

Remember you have a right to be safe and to choose what happens to you. The Survivors Trust is determined to ensure that all survivors have access to appropriate counselling, support and advice so that they can reclaim their lives and obtain the justice they deserve.

Please see our Find Support page for details of TST support groups and services near you, or click here for information and contact details for Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs). Additionally, details of  Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) based in the UK can be found here.

THE SURVIVORS TRUST HOMEPAGE