Support for Survivors

If you have been affected by church related abuse, you are not alone. We are committed to listening, taking you seriously, and helping you find the right support. You do not need to have made a formal report to access help.

This page brings together sources of support - both independent and from our own team - available to you

Contact our safeguarding team

Our Diocesan Safeguarding Team can assist in finding you support and pastoral guidance. safeguarding@chelmsford.anglican.org.

Full team contact details are on our Our Safeguarding Team page.

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Safe Spaces

Safe Spaces is a free, independent and confidential service for survivors of church-related abuse - run by the charity Victim Support on behalf of the Church of England, the Catholic Church of England and Wales, and the Church in Wales.

Safe Spaces is available whether or not a report has been made, and covers all forms of abuse - sexual, physical, financial, psychological, spiritual, domestic and coercive/controlling behaviour.

How to contact Safe Spaces

• Website (including webchat): www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk
• Telephone: 0300 303 1056 (answerphone available outside opening times)
• Email: safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk

Opening hours

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 10.00am – 6.00pm
• Thursday: 12.00pm – 8.00pm
• Closed Sundays

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Church of England guidance and resources

• Responding Well - A guide to support for victims and survivors (2023, PDF)
• Responding to Safeguarding Concerns or Allegations - Practice Guidance (2018, PDF)
• Responding well to domestic abuse - Practice Guidance (2017, PDF)
• Responding Well to Victims and Survivors - Church of England e-manual
• Reporting abuse and finding support - Church of England website
• Survivor participation - Church of England website
• National Survivor Participation Framework (February 2025) - Church of England press release
• Redress Scheme - Church of England website

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Domestic abuse resources

• Domestic Abuse Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Domestic Abuse Disclosure Flow Chart (PDF)
• Draft Safety and Exit Plan (PDF)
• Diocesan list of Safeguarding Organisations & Charities - PDF download

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Helpful organisations

Children and young people

• ChildLine - helpline for children | www.childline.org.uk | Tel: 0800 1111
• NSPCC | www.nspcc.org.uk | Tel: 0808 800 5000
• NSPCC FGM Helpline - for concerns about FGM | Tel: 0800 028 3550
• NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line - free advice for professionals | Tel: 0800 028 0285
• CEOP - Child Exploitation and Online Protection | www.ceop.police.uk
• Eighteen and Under - support for young people aged 18 and under | www.18u.org.uk | Tel: 0800 731 40 80
• The Lucy Faithfull Foundation - child protection charity | Stop it Now! Helpline: 0808 1000 900
• MOSAC - support for non-abusing parents and carers | www.mosac.org.uk | Tel: 0800 980 1958

Adult survivors

• MACSAS - Minister & Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors | www.macsas.org.uk | Tel: 08088 01 03 40
• NAPAC - National Association of People Abused in Childhood | www.napac.org.uk | Tel: 0808 801 0331
• The Survivors Trust | www.thesurvivorstrust.org | Tel: 0808 801 0818
• Survivors UK - for male survivors of sexual abuse | www.survivorsuk.org
• Survivors Voices - peer-led survivor organisation | www.survivorsvoices.org
• Mankind UK - support for male victims | www.mankind.org.uk | Tel: 01823 334244
• Action on Elder Abuse | www.elderabuse.org.uk | Tel: 0808 808 8141
• Respond - supporting people with learning disabilities affected by abuse | www.respond.org.uk | Tel: 0207 383 0700
• Anne Craft Trust - safeguarding disabled people | www.anncrafttrust.org | Tel: 0115 9515 400

Domestic abuse

• National Domestic Violence Helpline (Women's Aid / Refuge) - 24 hours | Tel: 0808 2000 247
• Men's Advice Line | www.mensadviceline.org.uk | Tel: 0808 801 0327
• Galop - LGBT anti-violence charity | www.galop.org.uk | Tel: 0800 999 5428
• COMPASS - domestic abuse support (Southend, Essex, Thurrock) | www.essexcompass.org.uk | Tel: 0330 333 7444
• Safer Places | www.saferplaces.co.uk | Tel: 03301 025811
• Women and Girls' Network (WGN) - London | www.wgn.org.uk | Tel: 0808 801 0660 / 0808 801 0770
• Respect Phoneline - for perpetrators wanting to stop | www.respectphoneline.org.uk | Tel: 0808 802 4040

Sexual violence

• Rape Crisis England & Wales | www.rapecrisis.org.uk | Tel: 0808 802 9999
• CARA - Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse (Essex) | www.caraessex.org.uk | Tel: 01206 769795
• SERICC - South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre | www.sericc.org.uk | Tel: 01375 381322
• The Havens - London centres for people raped or sexually assaulted | www.thehavens.org.uk | Tel: 020 3299 1599

Other support

• Samaritans - for anyone who needs to talk | www.samaritans.org | Tel: 116 123
• Victim Support | www.victimsupport.org.uk | Tel: 0845 456 5995
• Modern Slavery Helpline - 24/7 | www.modernslaveryhelpline.org | Tel: 0800 0121 700
• The Salvation Army - support for modern slavery victims | www.salvationarmy.org.uk/modern-slavery | Tel: 0300 3038 151
• Crimestoppers - report crime anonymously | www.crimestoppers-uk.org | Tel: 0800 555 111

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For more information or to report anything wrong with this page please contact The Safeguarding Team