Guidance

Victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation and abuse: sources of support

Published 9 December 2025

We understand that child sexual exploitation and abuse, including group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse (‘grooming gangs’), can have profound and devastating impacts on victims and survivors, their families, friends and communities. We also recognise that the process of establishing an inquiry and investigating grooming gangs could cause you to experience distress.

If you are a victim or survivor of child sexual abuse and exploitation, or a concerned family member or friend, this page will help you to understand what support is available.

1. If you are in crisis

If you are in crisis and are unable to keep yourself safe, or are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide that you may act on, please consider the following emergency options:

• go to any hospital or A&E department, or book an emergency appointment with your GP
• call 999 and ask for an ambulance, or for non-emergency health advice call the NHS on 111
• if you need urgent support but don’t want to contact the health service call the Samaritans 24/7 helpline on 116 123

2. If you are in danger or want to report a crime

If you are in danger, have any concerns about your safety, or want to report a crime, please contact your local police force:

• call 999 if there is a threat to life or an emergency
• alternatively, you can report to the police on the non-emergency number 101 and online at Police.UK

3. Support organisations

There are several specialist organisations providing free confidential information, advice and support to victims and survivors and their family members or friends.

• NSPCC: The UK’s leading children’s charity – with specialist support for children who have experienced or who are at risk of sexual abuse
• Barnardo’s: Compassionate support for children, young people, and their families, from one of the UK’s leading charities
• NAPAC (The National Association for People Abused in Childhood): Helping adult survivors or victims of any form of child abuse take their difficult first step
• Galop: A UK LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, provides a dedicated sexual violence helpline for LGBT+ people who have experienced sexual assault, violence or abuse, however or whenever it happened
• The Survivors Trust: The Survivors Trust have over 120 member organisations throughout the UK and Ireland who provide specialist support services to rape and sexual abuse survivors
• Stop it now campaign, Lucy Faithfull Foundation: Confidential support for anyone worried about a child or worried about their own thoughts and behaviours towards children
• Victim Support: A charity that provides 24-hour free and confidential support to people affected by crime or traumatic events
• Catch 22: Support for young people, parents, and carers, with the aim of preventing or stopping child exploitation
• The Children’s Society: Dedicated charity for young people to talk about their experiences and how they’re feeling
• 1in6: Access self-help resources on the 1in6 website (for survivors who self-identify as male)
• National Male Survivor Helpline and Online Support Service: Operated by Safeline: A dedicated service in England and Wales for adults and children affected by rape or sexual abuse who identify as male and for those that support them such as friends and family
• Rape Crisis England & Wales: Delivering specialist services to those affected by sexual violence and abuse, and aiming to educate, influence and make change
• Ivison Trust: A national charity dedicated to supporting parents whose children have been sexually or criminally exploited
• Restitute: UK-based organisation that provides practical and personalised support to people who care for survivors of sexual or violent crime
• Beyond the Streets: UK charity working with women to end sexual exploitation and prostitution and to find routes for those exploited and seeking change
• Citizens Advice: Gives free, confidential information and advice to assist people with money, legal, consumer and other problems

4. Additional resources

The following services and resources have further information to help you understand what support is available and how to find it, including local services:

• NHS England – Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) – you can find your nearest SARC – if you do not want to involve the police or report what happened, you can still get help from a SARC – they:
  • offer medical, practical and emotional support 24/7 to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused at any time in their life
  • are located across the country
  • support people of all ages, whatever their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity
  • are staffed by health and wellbeing professionals, who provide a range of specialist care, treatment and support, which includes emotional support, medical examinations and emergency contraception, as well as referral to sexual health services, mental health services and counselling and therapy sessions
• The Centre of Expertise for Child Sexual Abuse directory to find help for yourself or others affected by child sexual abuse in England and Wales
• Sexual Abuse Support sets out lots of different support that is available to you
• Support following a rape or sexual assault – guidance from the Ministry of Justice to help you access a support service, contact support services, understand different types of support, and to find contact details
• The national When You Are Ready campaign hopes to make victims and survivors feel seen and heard, to know they’re not alone and encourage them to tell a friend, contact a support organisation and feel empowered to take that step, when they are ready to do so

Please note that the services and organisations above are independent of the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs. These organisations are widely recognised for offering support services.

This is not an exhaustive list of organisations that could provide you with advice and support, and there may be other organisations better placed to help you or that you feel more comfortable speaking to.

We encourage you to reach out to wherever you feel most comfortable sourcing help and support.

The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs will establish its own mechanisms for engaging with and supporting victims and survivors. Further information will be provided once those processes are up and running.