The Survivors Trust

Infobox Network
network_name = The Survivors Trust
network_
website = http://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/

The Survivors Trust is a national umbrella agency for over 125 specialist voluntary sector agencies throughout the UK and Ireland providing a range of counselling, therapeutic and support services working with women, men and children who are victims/survivors of rape, sexual violence and sexual abuse [cite web |title=The Lantern Project: "The Survivors Trust" |url=http://www.lanternproject.org.uk/articles/thesurvivorstrust/46|accessdate=2008-08-19] .The organisation aims to offer a national collective voice to support and empower survivor groups, to educate and inform acknowledgment of and response to sexual abuse on a local and national level [cite web |title=Home Office website: "Guide to Partnerships on tackling sexual violence" |url=http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/dv/dv13.pdf|accessdate=2008-08-15] .

History

The origins of The Survivors Trust go back to 1999/2000 when key individuals within five specialist agencies began to actively seek a peer group.

These agencies became the founders of what was then a fledgling idea of a peer-group for individual workers and which quickly grew into the realisation of the dream of a national network for organisation, through which the unmet needs of all survivors, women, men, boys and girls, young and old, could be raised.

Throughout 2000 and 2001 the growing number of founding agencies took time to develop a vision of what a national network could provide, and how to offer other specialist agencies the chance to join. During this time – and after many hours of deliberation – the name ‘The Survivors Trust’ was adopted.

In March 2002, a major launch meeting was held in London, jointly hosted by [http://www.oneinfour.org.uk One in Four] and [http://www.survivorsuk.org Survivors UK] , with over 60 people attending, representing 30 organisations – all of which subsequently joined as organisational members.

Since 2002 The Survivors Trust has continued year on year to develop new partnerships and to make an impact at a national level. As at 2008, The Survivors Trust has over 120 member groups [cite web |title=The Survivors Trust website: "About us" |url=http://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/info/about-us.aspx |accessdate=2008-08-15] .

As a charitable organisation The Survivors Trust has received funding from the Victims Fund and the UK Home Office [cite web |title=Speech given by Vera Baird QC MP, Solicitor General: "Sexual Violence and Abuse in Context" |url=http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk/attachments/Solicitor%20General%20Speech%20Survivors%20Trust%20-%20Warwick%20University.pdf |accessdate=2008-08-19] to carry out its work, among other sources. The UK Government Home Office has also recognised The Survivors Trust as one of the main umbrella groups which provides support to the sexual violence and abuse voluntary sector in the UK [cite web |title=UK Home Office - Crime reduction: "Victims Care" |url=http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/sexualoffences/sexual09.htm |accessdate=2008-08-19] and representatives from The Survivors Trust sit on the Stakeholder Advisory Group on Sexual Violence and Abuse - an advisory group to the UK Government.

The Survivors Trust has become increasingly involved in a diverse range of projects. They have offered support for various survivor marches and rallies which have taken place in different locations around the UK [cite web |title=Manchester Evening News: "Abuse survivors demand help" |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1016554_abuse_survivors_demand_help |accessdate=2008-08-19] .

Core aims

The Survivors Trust 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 [cite web |title=The Survivors Trust website: "Our Aims" |url=http://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/info/our-aims.aspx |accessdate=2008-08-15] .

Further reading

* [http://www.thesurvivorstrust.org/info/briefing-papers.aspx The inter-relatedness of sexual victimisation and priority social and health policy issues ] , Briefing paper written by Kathryn Livingston, 2004

External links

* [http://www.thesurvivorstrust.org The Survivors Trust] , Official website of The Survivors Trust
* [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime-victims/reducing-crime/sexual-offences/ Home Office Crime and Victims - Sexual Offences] , Information about the UK Home Office Sexual Offences Unit
* [http://www.dabsbooks.co.uk/ Directory and Books Services (DABS)] , DABS is a specialist book and information service for people who are overcoming childhood abuse, sexual abuse, or domestic violence, and for those who live or work with survivors.

References