SurvivorsUK | Get Help 18+

Our helpline is open today 12-4pm (09/12/2023)

Our helpline will be closed between 4-8pm

Will reopen as usual tomorrow at 12-8pm. We are having to close today from 4-8pm today due to staff shortages. We’re really sorry.

We will be open as usual tomorrow.

If you need to speak to someone urgently while we are closed, please call Safeline on 0808 800 5005.

Please find a selection of useful SurvivorsUK materials below, which can be downloaded via the Download links.

SurvivorsUK Business Cards

Download

A Guide to Our Services – Leaflet

Download

Dancing With Our Ancestors – Poetry & therapy booklet by Black, Asian and Mixed heritage survivors

Download

Group Work

Complete self referral form
Meeting other men who have gone through similar experiences to you can be profoundly helpful. A group of survivors is a safe, confidential space where you can tell your story, share experiences, learn from other people’s coping strategies and really feel like you are not alone.

We run a variety of groups, all there to support you emotionally, however some are specialist in areas to meet a range of diverse needs.

This service is available to anyone in the UK. Most groups are held online. You can sign up for monthly group email updates by making a request to the groups team at [email protected]

If you would like to refer to our individual counselling service, please click here.

How to get started?

1. Contact us

You can contact our online helpline service, our group work team at [email protected] or by completing our online referral form here.

2. We Contact You

Once you have completed a referral form, you will receive a confirmation email with details about our available groups. You can then book onto the group which sounds right for you.

SurvivorsUK is a fee-free service, meaning we rely on donations to operate.

Make A Donation

Confidentiality

What you say is important to us and personal to you. We take confidentiality very seriously and only in very extreme cases would we contact anyone else about what you are telling us. But we also care about your safety and the safety of others and if we think you, or someone else, is in immediate risk of serious harm, we will take steps to keep you and others safe. If you want to check that out in more detail before you tell us something, then please do and then you can decide what you feel ready to tell us.

Contact us at [email protected].

Individual Counselling

Complete self referral form

We offer individual counselling men, boys, and non-binary people aged 13 and over who have experienced sexual abuse at any time in their lives.

We take self referrals only. You can self refer by completing our online referral form here, by phoning our office line 0203 598 3898, or by emailing [email protected].

Our counselling service is available to those resident in any London Borough.

SurvivorsUK is a fee-free service. This means we rely on donations to provide everyone with the support they need. Please consider supporting us by making a donation today.

Make a donation

How to get started with individual counselling

1. Contact us

You make a self referral by completing our online referral form here, by phoning our office line 0203 598 3898, or by emailing [email protected].

2. Assessment

We will contact you to organise an initial consultation.

3. Discussion

In the initial consultation we will think about whether individual counselling, individual telephone counselling or group work at SurvivorsUK is the most helpful support for you.

4. Confirmation

If we determine individual (telephone) counselling is right for you, we will then confirm you’re on our waiting list.

5. Counselling Begins

We will then contact you about suitable times and vacancies while allocating you a counsellor from our team.

If we’re not the right service for you, this is something we’ll discuss with you. We will support you in finding a suitable alternative service that can help.

Our Counsellors

We have a diverse team of counsellors currently providing counselling online. Our counsellors are fully qualified and adhere to BACP guidelines. All of our counsellors are experienced in supporting male survivors and receive ongoing professional training. We have a trained EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) therapist on staff.

How it works

Individual counselling: we offer new clients 12 sessions of counselling. Clients have the opportunity to extend the counselling to a maximum of six months, in consultation with your counsellor.
Individual telephone counselling: the counselling contract is also set up to provide 12 sessions. Your sessions will usually be arranged for the same time each week and will be with the same counsellor each week, allowing continuity and confidentiality.
We keep all information confidential within our organisation unless in exceptional circumstances such as a disclosure about a serious crime or a child protection concern.

Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) Services

Complete the ISVA referral form

Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) are trained to provide emotional and practical support to survivors of rape, sexual abuse and sexual assault who have reported to the police or are considering reporting to the police.

Our main role is to support around the criminal justice process, but we are independent from the police and we are not legal advisors.

We recognise that reporting to the police is particularly difficult for trans survivors and survivors of colour, who are less likely to be believed by the police and others about their abuse. We stand against all discrimination and are here to support you if you wish to seek out justice.

Your ISVA will support you in a non-judgemental way to address your needs and will help you ensure that other organisations also provide you with the right kind of support.

Our ISVAs can help you with a range of things depending on your needs and what kind of support you would like. They can:

Provide you with information on the criminal justice process and what you can expect if you report to the police. They can also attend interviews and court with you if you wish.
Give you information on health services and attend appointment with you if you wish.
Help you to think about your safety and what can be done to improve your safety.
Listen to your experiences and give you emotional support.

Our ISVA service is open to boys, men, and non-binary people over the age of 13, living in any London Borough and or if the abuse was committed in any London Borough. The abuse can have taken place either in childhood or adulthood. This is a free service.

The process

1. Contact us

You make a self referral or an organisation supporting you, such as the police, makes a referral on your behalf. If you would like to refer yourself, please complete this form. If someone is completing the form on your behalf, they should use this form. Alternatively, you can phone 02035983898 or email [email protected]

2. Assessment

Our ISVA will contact you by phone, text or email, however you prefer. We aim to do this within fifteen working days of receiving your referral. If the ISVA service seems the right service for you, we will aim to offer a meeting within seven working days.

3. Discussion

When you first meet with the ISVA, you can talk to them about your needs and what kind of support you would find helpful. We will also cover things like how to keep in touch with the ISVA, confidentiality and assessing risk.

4. Support Begins
We will meet and chat regularly, depending on how much support you feel you need. This can be in person or over the phone.

Our ISVAs

ISVAs are here to help, but they aren’t counsellors.

If you would like to find out about our counselling services, please see here.

Not sure if the ISVA service is right for you? Feel free to contact our ISVA for an informal chat – 02035983898 or [email protected].

If you are looking for an ISVA service for girls or women in London, please contact the London Survivors Gateway.

1:1 chat sessions with trained support workers, in confidence

Mon – Sun
12pm-8pm

Chat Online Now

Chat via SMS text
020 3322 1860

SurvivorsUK offers professional training on providing services to male survivors and the impact of sexual abuse and rape on men and boys. We offer this training to individuals and organisations at competitive rates from our premises in East London or, depending on numbers, at a rented space nearby.

To make a booking please complete the booking form and email it to [email protected], or call 020 3598 3898.

Upcoming Training Events

Introductory training 3

Introductory one-day training course on understanding and working with male sexual abuse and violation, suitable for professionals from a wide range of backgrounds (such as social workers, teachers, police, prison staff, counsellors, psychotherapists, nurses).

Trainer: Dr Katherine Cox
Lunch provided.

Rates

Large organisations £150 per person (or £120 pp for 3+ bookings)
Small organisations or individuals £100 per person (or £75 pp for 3+ bookings)

Dates

Saturday 23 May 2020
10am to 4pm

Enquire about this course

Introductory training 2

Introductory one-day training course on understanding and working with male sexual abuse and violation, suitable for professionals from a wide range of backgrounds (such as social workers, teachers, police, prison staff, counsellors, psychotherapists, nurses).

Trainer: Dr Katherine Cox
Lunch provided.

Rates

Large organisations £150 per person (or £120 pp for 3+ bookings)
Small organisations or individuals £100 per person (or £75 pp for 3+ bookings)

Dates

Saturday 23 May 2020
10am to 4pm

Enquire about this course

Introductory training 1

Introductory one-day training course on understanding and working with male sexual abuse and violation, suitable for professionals from a wide range of backgrounds (such as social workers, teachers, police, prison staff, counsellors, psychotherapists, nurses).

Trainer: Dr Katherine Cox
Lunch provided.

Rates

Large organisations £150 per person (or £120 pp for 3+ bookings)
Small organisations or individuals £100 per person (or £75 pp for 3+ bookings)

Dates

Saturday 23 May 2020
10am to 4pm

Enquire about this course

Bespoke Training

Depending on availability, we may be able to offer bespoke training packages to organisations at your premises.

Trainer: Dr Katherine Cox
Lunch provided.

Rates

Large organisations £150 per person (or £120 pp for 3+ bookings)
Small organisations or individuals £100 per person (or £75 pp for 3+ bookings)

Dates

Saturday 23 May 2020
10am to 4pm

Enquire about this course

No training events are currently planned

Enquire about our training

National Online Helpline

SurvivorsUK runs the National Male Survivors Online Helpline – a webchat and SMS service for men, boys and non-binary people who have experienced sexual abuse at any time in their lives.

Our specialist support team can chat with you for up to 45 minutes per day by webchat or by text (SMS). Click ‘Chat online now’, below, or send a text to 020 3322 1860.

We are also here for loved ones.

Mon – Sun

12pm-8pm

Chat Online Now

Chat via SMS text
020 3322 1860

Our specialist support workers are experienced at supporting you to share things at your own pace, when you are ready.

The chat is under your control so you can choose to finish whenever it feels right. There’s no pressure – you can contact us as little or often as you like, for up to 45 minutes per day.

We know it can feel daunting the first time you reach out. We’re trained to support you through that process and we try to make it as easy for you as we can.

Additional information

We keep our chats to 45 minutes a day, to allow everyone the opportunity to talk.

We can talk to you at any age. If you’re under 18, visit our Get Help 13-18 page for more information.

If you are concerned about a child or young person, please contact our online helpline for advice, or the NPSCC.

If you have thoughts about possibly harming a child yourself, please contact Stop It Now on 0800 1000 900.

If you contact our online helpline and we’re not the right service for you, we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.

Confidentiality

We keep all information confidential within our organisation. However, if you tell us about a child or vulnerable adult at immediate risk of irreversible harm, or information about terrorism, the law may require us to break your confidentiality.

We want you to stay in the driving seat. If you’re unsure what will happen if you tell us something, please ask us first to explain our confidentiality policy in more detail. That way, you can make an informed choice about what to tell us.

If you tell us something that we may need to pass on, we will chat with you about this first, if we are able.

If you need to wipe your web browser history after visiting our website or contacting our helpline, you can do so by following these instructions.

Contact us outside of online helpline hours

You can email us at [email protected] and we’ll try to get back to you by the next working day.

If you want to refer yourself for our non-helpline services you can do so on our website (click the menu, then ‘Get help’), or call our office line on 0203 598 3898 during office hours.

Clinic26 is online

Clinic26 is a safe place for men and non-binary people who have experienced sexual abuse, assault, or rape, to access sexual health services in a supportive environment. We offer both sexual health testing and support around sexual wellbeing.

Clinic26 is a partnership between Barts Health NHS Trust and SurvivorsUK.

At the moment Clinic26 is being held via Zoom.

While this service is being made available remotely, it is available to anyone in the UK.

During your visit you will be given the opportunity to access the following services:

A discussion with a Doctor around any sexual health concerns including routine sexual health testing, treatment for sexually transmitted infections and advice and referrals for your sexual wellbeing. You can also speak with the doctor about general health concerns and accessing health services
A discussion with a sexual health advisor from SurvivorsUK for information and advice around sexual health and wellbeing

A discussion with a counsellor from SurvivorsUK for information on SurvivorsUK’s services and other services that may be helpful to you and for support and advice about your mental health and emotional wellbeing.

You will not be made to talk about anything you do not want to talk about. Staff will go at your pace and will always ask for your consent before anything is done.

Contacting and making an appointment

At the moment Clinic26 is being held online. If after your initial appointment it is agreed you need face to face services, we will discuss this with you.

The clinic is open on the fourth Monday of the month (except in Dec 2020 when it will be held on the 21st Dec 1.30-4 pm). The clinic is open from 1.30-4 pm with limited pre-booked appointments.

To make an appointment at Clinic26 please contact [email protected] or call 020 3598 3898.

Forensics

Clinic26 is not able to gather forensic evidence or provide emergency treatment. If you require these services, please contact The Havens (020 3299 6900) or your local emergency department.

Your appointment

Once you register, you will be sent details about how to log in for your appointment.

If for any reason you are not able to make your appointment, please contact us as soon as possible so we can offer it to someone else.

Anonymity

We understand that accessing services can be difficult. If you do not want to give us your real name, that’s ok.

Civil Law Clinic

Book an Appointment

We know that you may have questions about taking civil action in relation to abuse. To make it easier to get advice and speak to a lawyer, we set up the Civil Law Clinic with the law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp.

Bolt Burdon Kemp can help with bringing legal action for abuse against individual abusers, foster parents, employers, sports or youth clubs, religious or charitable organisations, social services and others. They can support people seeking compensation though the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and through the court system.

You can book an appointment online to meet with a specialist abuse lawyer at SurvivorsUK’s office or by clicking on the button at the bottom of this page. The appointment with a lawyer from Bolt Burdon Kemp is free.

If you would like advice about a criminal case, please contact our ISVA service by emailing [email protected] or calling 0203 598 3898.

SurvivorsUK has a connection with Bolt Burdon Kemp but does not recommend their services over any other law firm.

For more information about Bolt Burdon Kemp and their team of specialist abuse lawyers, visit boltburdonkemp.co.uk/child-abuse.

For information on other law firms visit the childabuselawyers.com

While this service is being made available remotely, it is available to anyone in the UK.

To book, contact [email protected] or call 020 3598 3898.

National Database of Male Sexual Abuse Counselling and Support Services

This database includes qualified counsellors, psychotherapists, arts therapists and psychologists who have undergone a specific training with SurvivorsUK, as well as other organisations offering support.

Find support

Enter your town, city or postcode:

Searches are anonymous. We do not store your data

At the point of being accepted onto our database, individual practitioners have agreed to adhere to our terms and conditions including:

Providing us with proof of their qualifications and liability insurance.
Adhering to a code of ethics (BACP/UKCP or equivalent).

Practitioners on this database work independently of SurvivorsUK and do not come under our usual contract of employment. However should you have any complaint about any of the professionals listed please contact us and we shall be happy to assist you as best we can.

For people outside of London

If you’re able to travel to central London, regardless of where you live we can support you in our service, based in Shadwell. This extends to both individual counselling and group work.

If you can’t find a suitable service on our database, you could also try NAPAC or The Survivors Trust which can also give you details about other specialist services in your local area.

Want to be on this list?

Get in touch at [email protected] or 02035983898

Case Worker Services

Complete self referral form

A Case Worker can provide practical support to anyone who is not currently going through the criminal justice process, or who has ISVA support.

We can provide up to 3 months of support to assist with areas such as applying for housing, employment, financial support, and finding and accessing other support services.

Our Case Worker service is open to boys, men, and non-binary people over the age of 13, living in any London Borough and or if the abuse was committed in any London Borough. The abuse can have taken place either in childhood or adulthood. This is a free service.

If you are currently part of an ongoing case, or you are considering reporting to the police, please complete a referral form for our Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service via this link.

I think I would like to speak to a Case Worker. What should I do?

1. Contact us

You or someone you trust can fill in this form, or you can phone us on 020 3598 3898 or email [email protected]

2. Initial Chat

One of our Case Workers will get in touch with you by phone, text or email, however you prefer. We aim to do this within two working days of you first getting in touch, excluding bank holidays.

3. What help is right for you

You can chat with your Case Worker about what sort of help will be right for you. We can meet and chat with you regularly, in person, by phone or online, depending on how much support you feel you need.