Help and support for victims and survivors

You might be looking at this page because something has happened to you, and you are looking for help and support. You may not have felt able to tell anyone before.  The Safeguarding Team is here for you, to help and support you if you would like to share your experiences.  If you contact us you will be heard and supported.  We will take any concerns you share seriously, as we appreciate how hard it can be to talk about what has happened to you.

You can contact the Safeguarding Office Monday to Friday between 9:00am – 4:30pm for a confidential conversation.  Our phone number is 01364 645430.  You can also report a concern by completing our Online Contact Form.

We also understand that you may prefer to speak to someone else, especially if you were hurt by a member of the church.  Please find below contact details for some organisations that may be of help to you.

If, however, the matter requires an immediate response then contact should be made directly with the Police:

Police Emergency – Telephone: 999
Police Non Emergency Number – Telephone: 101
Devon and Cornwall Police
Dorset Police

National Organisations

Safe Spaces – Is a free and independent support service for anyone who has experienced abuse in relation to the Church of England, the Church in Wales or the Catholic Church of England and Wales. This could be abuse by someone who holds any role at the church or is linked to participating in a church-led activity or group.

If you have been affected, however long ago, Safe Spaces can provide you with support. You do not have to have told the police or the church authorities, and you do not have to still be involved with the church. Your information will not be shared without your consent unless you or someone else is in immediate danger.

The Safe Spaces team is available on its helpline Monday-Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday 9am-1pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm.  You can also email them or contact them anonymously via the chat facility on their website.
Telephone: 0300 303 1056
Email: safespaces@firstlight.org.uk

Childine – Free and confidential help and advice service for anyone under the age of 19.
Telephone: 0800 1111 (24 hours, 7 days a week)

Galop – Supporting LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence.
Telephone:  0800 999 5428 (LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline. Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm, and Wednesday and Thursday, 10am – 8pm)

Grief to Grace – Provide a specialised 5-day programme of spiritual and psychological healing for anyone who has suffered sexual, physical, emotional or spiritual abuse in childhood, adolescence or adulthood, including those who are the victims of rape, incest or abuse by a member of the clergy.
Telephone:  020 8154 2719 (Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm)

Hourglass (Formerly Action on Elder Abuse) – A charity that works to challenge and prevent the abuse of older people.
Telephone: 0808 808 8141 (24 hours, 7 days a week)

Karma Nirvana – A charity that helps anyone who has been affected by Honour Based Abuse.
Telephone: 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)

Mankind – Help and support for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence.
Telephone: 01823 334244 (Monday to Friday, 10am – 4pm)

Medaille Trust – Provides refuge and freedom from modern slavery.
Telephone: 0800 069 9916 (24 hours, 7 days a week)

Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (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.
Telephone: 08088 010340 (Saturday, 9am – 11:30am and Wednesday, 7pm – 9:30pm)

The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) – Offers support to adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse.
Telephone: 0808 801 0331 (Monday to Thursday, 10am – 9pm, and Friday, 10am – 6pm)

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) – The UK’s leading children’s charity.
Telephone: 0808 800 5000 (Monday to Friday, 8am – 10pm, and 9am – 6pm at the weekends)

Rape Crisis England & Wales – Provides specialist information and support to all those affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and all other forms of sexual violence and abuse.
Telephone: 0808 500 2222 (24 hours, 7 days a week)

Refuge – Help for women and children experiencing domestic abuse/violence.
Telephone: 0808 2000 247 (24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline)

Replenished – Support for those who have experienced abuse and trauma in a religious context.
Telephone: 07746 153703 (Monday and Tuesday, 9am – 5pm)

Respect – Helpline for male victims of domestic abuse.
Telephone: 0808 801 0327 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm)

Stop It Now – UK wide charity dedicated solely to preventing child sexual abuse.
Telephone: 0808 1000 900 (Monday to Thursday, 9am – 9pm, and Friday, 9am – 5pm)

Unseen – A UK charity that provides safe houses and support in the community for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery.
Telephone: 08000 121 700 (24-Hour Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline)

Women’s Aid – Charity for women and children who are living with domestic abuse.

Local Organisations

Devon

Are you okay? – Help and support for men, women and children in Torbay who need protection from domestic abuse and or sexual violence.

Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services – Confidential, professional support for survivors of rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse in Devon.
Telephone: 01392 204174 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6pm – 9pm.)

Fear Less – Support for domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking.
Telephone: 0345 155 1074 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 4:30pm)

Momentum – Support for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. 
Telephone: 07773 151080 (Monday to Friday, 9am – midday)

North Devon Against Domestic Abuse – Temporary refuge for families, single women and children.
Telephone: 01392 370079 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5:30pm)

Plymouth Domestic Abuse Services (PDAS) – Provides support, advice and protection for all victims of domestic abuse.
Telephone: 0800 458 2558 (Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm, and Wednesday, 8am – 8pm)

SAFE Foundation – Supporting families to recover from the trauma of domestic violence and abuse. 
Telephone: 03030 300112 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)

Sexual Abuse Listening Therapy (SALT) South West – Plymouth based charity who provide a listening therapy for adults (aged 16+) survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Telephone: 01752 600599 (Helpline is manned between 10am-3pm, Monday to Wednesday.  You can leave a message outside of these times)

Survivors Alliance North Devon (SAND) – Specialist counselling service for adults who have experienced sexual abuse or rape, and their non-offending family members.
Telephone: 07763 617693

Torbay Domestic Abuse Service (TDAS) – Provide practical, non-judgemental support, advice and protection for all victims of domestic abuse.
Telephone: 0800 916 1474 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)

Cornwall

CLEAR – Emotional trauma and therapy specialists.
Telephone: 01872 261147 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)

First Light – Domestic abuse and sexual violence support for all.
Telephone: 0300 777 4777 (Safer Futures Cornwall Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Service. Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm, and Saturday, 9am – 5pm)

Waves – Domestic violence and abuse counselling service.
Telephone: 07815 136743

The Women’s Centre Cornwall – Specialist provider of services for for women and girls (11 years+) who have experienced any form of sexual violence, rape, sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse and/or domestic abuse at any point in their lives.
Telephone: 01208 77099 (Rape and Sexual Abuse & Domestic Abuse Helpline. Monday to Friday, 10am – 1pm)

Devon and Cornwall

First Light – Sexual violence support for all.
Telephone: 03458 121212 (Devon, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Independent Sexual Violence Advisory Service helpline, Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)

Operation Emotion – Plymouth based charity for men who have been sexually abused.
Telephone: 07539 810096 (Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm, and Saturday, 8am – 1pm)

Pegasus – Men’s Wellbeing Centre CIC – Specialised support for men (Trauma, childhood trauma, domestic abuse, sexual violence etc).
Telephone: 01209 205785 / 07817 261494 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5:30pm)

Victim Support Devon and Cornwall – Free and confidential support for people affected by crime and traumatic events.
Telephone: 0300 303 0554 (Monday to Friday, 12pm – 6pm) / 0808 1689 111 (Out of hours Supportline, 24 hours, 7 days a week)

Dorset

Acts Fast – Support for families, parents, carers and children who have been affected by sexual abuse.
Telephone: 01202 797217 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm)

Sexual Trauma and Recovery Services (STARS) – Support for anyone who has experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their life.
Telephone: 01202 308855 (Monday and Tuesday, 10am – 12pm, and 3pm – 5pm, Wednesday to Friday, 10am – 12pm, 3pm – 5pm and 7:30pm – 9:30pm)

The Shores – Support for victims of rape or serious sexual assault.
Telephone: 0800 970 9954 (24 hours, 7 days a week)

Victim Support Dorset – Free and confidential support for people affected by crime and traumatic events.
Telephone: 0300 3030 163 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 6:30pm) / 0808 1689 111 (Out of hours Supportline, 24 hours, 7 days a week)

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