Home     Safeguarding    News, Jobs and Calendar     Parish Support    Contact us

Home > Safeguarding > Care and Support

Care and Support

National, Local and Diocesan contact numbers and websites for safeguarding care and support.

Responding Well to Victims and Survivors

If you are a victim or survivor of church-based abuse, or if you are concerned that someone is experiencing or has experienced abuse in a church setting, this guide will help you understand what support you can expect from the Church. This practice guidance - Responding Well to Victims and Survivors - includes short videos as a helpful summary. 

Adults who have experienced abuse

Responding Well: A guide to support for victims and survivors of church-based abuse

Safe Spaces

Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales. It is free to access via telephone, email or web-chat. 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. 

A member of the Safe Spaces team will make contact within 48 hours of making a contact request or referral.

The Elms Sexual Abuse Referral Centre

The Elms Sexual Abuse Referral Centre offers a comprehensive service for adults and children in Cambridgeshire who have experienced sexual violence or sexual abuse. Their clients can access The Elms SARC via the Police and other professionals, as well as via the self-referral pathway (booking an appointment at the SARC, without police involvement).

Other Resources

National Rape Crisis Helpline 

SARSAS - Support for people affected by rape or any kind of sexual assault or abuse at any time in their lives

  • Website: sarsas.org.uk
  • Telephone: 0808 801 0456
  • Email: support@sarsas.org.uk
  • Opening times: Monday: 11am – 2pm, Tuesday: 6pm – 8pm, Wednesday: 6pm – 8pm, Thursday: 6pm – 8pm, Friday: 11am – 2pm

The Survivors Trust -  the largest umbrella agency for specialist rape and sexual abuse services in the UK.

Report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences to Cambridgeshire Police

Samaritans Helpline - Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.

  • Website: samaritans.org
  • Telephone: 116 123 
  • Opening Times: 24 hours

National Asociation for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) - Supporting recovery from childhood abuse

  • Website: napac.org.uk
  • Telephone: 0808 801 0331
  • Opening Times: Monday to Thursday: 10am – 9pm, Friday: 10am – 6pm

Survivors Voices - is a survivor-led organisation that harnesses the expertise of people affected by abuse in order to transform society’s response to trauma and abuse. 

My Support Space MOJ

My Support Space is an online resource designed by the independent charity Victim Support to help you manage the impact that crime has had on you.

You can work through a series of interactive guides which address your specific needs. The guides are designed to be completed in your own time and at your own pace. You can save your progress and revisit where you left off at any time. There's also information about where and how you can access further support, and the opportunity to register with SilverCloud, an online therapy system.

My Support Space is also available for those supporting someone after they’ve experienced crime or trauma, for example friends, family members, colleagues or neighbours. When registering for an account, you can select that you're a supporter rather than a victim or witness of crime. You will then have access to guides that have been designed to help you support a loved one.

Faith related abuse and spiritual abuse

Replenished

The Replenished Life Support Line is for those who have experienced abuse and trauma in a religious context.

Other Resources

Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Service (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.

Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) - is a service to provide help in selecting a counsellor or psychotherapist who shares, values and respects religious faith and spirituality.

House of Survivors - A site has been published by two members of the Survivor Reference Group who are Survivors of Church of England based abuse. Its purpose is to provide helpful information for fellow Church abused survivors in various aspects of understanding or interaction with the Church and/or its representatives (legal, insurance, etc.).

Children and Adult Services in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough & Norfolk

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board (Children and Adult)

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children's Services (referrals)

  • Cambridgeshire
    • Telephone: 0345 045 5203
  • Peterborough
    • Telephone: 01733 864170
  • Out of hours (Cambridge & Peterborough)

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Adult Services (referrals)

  • Cambridgeshire
    • Telephone: 0345 045 5202
  • Peterborough
    • Telephone: 01773 747474
  • Out of hours (Cambridge & Peterborough)
    • Telephone: 01733 234724

Norfolk Safeguarding Children’s Partnership

  • Website: norfolklscp.org.uk
  • Making a referral: If you are a professional, i.e. working with a child or young person in a formal or voluntary setting and not a family member or member of the public, you can contact the Children’s Advice and Duty Service on their direct line: 0344 800 8021.
  • If you are a member of the public you can do this through Norfolk County Council’s Customer Services on 0344 800 8020.

Norfolk Safeguarding Adult Partnership

Other Resources

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline - Phone if you are worried about a child.

  • Website: nspcc.org.uk
  • Telephone: 0808 800 5000
  • Opening Times: Calls are free and lines are open 24 hours.

Childline - Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.

  • Website: childline.org.uk
  • Telephone: 0800 1111 
  • Opening Times: Calls are free and lines are open 24 hours.

Samaritans Helpline - Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.

  • Website: samaritans.org
  • Telephone: 116 123
  • Opening Times: Open 24 hours.

Domestic Abuse

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough)

The Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership brings together key agencies across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough with the aim of reducing the harm, risks and costs associated with domestic abuse and sexual violence and to prevent these crimes occurring across Cambridgeshire.

IMPAKT Housing and Support

IMPAKT deliver services that support people escaping abusive relationships, to provide individuals and families with a safe place to call home. Survivors can self-refer to the confidential service.

Other Domestic Abuse Resources

National Domestic Abuse Helpline - Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.

LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline - for LGBT+ people experiencing abuse or violence

Men’s Advice Line - for male victims of domestic abuse.

B United - Supporting male victims of domestic abuse in Cambridgeshire. 

Restored - a Christian charity working to raise awareness of domestic abuse, support survivors, and equip the church to do the same.restored logo

PEGS (Parental Education Growth Support) - Supporting parents and professionals with child to parent abuse.

If you are affected by stalking and harassment

National Stalking Helpline gives practical information, support, and advice to victims of stalking.

For those experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues

Keep Your Head brings together reliable information on mental health and wellbeing for children, adults and professionals.

Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community. Free, safe and anonymous support.

Samaritans Helpline - Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.

  • Telephone: 116 123
  • Opening Times: Open 24 hours.

HEAR 85258 is a confidential, free, 24/7 text message support service for anyone in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

For older people

Age UK Advice Line:

  • Website: ageuk.org.uk
  • Telephone: 0800 678 1602
  • Opening Times: Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year.

Hourglass works to end the harm, abuse and exploitation of older people in the UK

  • Website: wearehourglass.org
  • Telephone: 0800 4 70 80 90 
  • Opening Times: Helpline and chatbot are available 24/7. All other services are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The Silver Line is the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK open every day and night of the year.

  • Website: thesilverline.org.uk
  • Telephone: 0800 4 70 80 90 
  • Opening Times: open every day and night of the year

Cruse Bereavement Support

Helping people through one of the most painful times in life – with bereavement support and information. Support is provided though their website, national helpline, group, zoom, telephone or one-to-one in person support. Cruse Bereavment Support wants to make sure everyone grieving gets the help they need in a way that works for them.

Other Support Organisations

We understand reporting abuse may be very difficult and distressing to you and it may add to your hurt by our not being able to immediately assist you. Therefore, here are the contact details of other agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services:

Hub of Hope

The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database.

It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place for the first time.

The website allows you to put in your postcode to find support services local to you: hubofhope.co.uk

Church of England National Contacts

Page last updated: Wednesday 4th September 2024 4:55 PM
Powered by Church Edit