Help and support
Support services
For some ideas on how you can look after yourself, please download the booklet Your Wellbeing.
If you attend at the hearing centre, you may hear experiences of child sexual abuse which may impact you. We have support workers available at our hearing centre during public hearings.
If you would like to arrange additional support, there are a number of national organisations that may be able to provide this. Additionally, there are specialist organisations providing support and advice to victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. Some of these support organisations are listed here.
National Association for People Abused in Childhood
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) is a national charity offering support to adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect.
NAPAC helpline: 0808 801 0331
Rape Crisis England and Wales is a national charity and the umbrella body for all Rape Crisis Centres. You can find your nearest Rape Crisis Centre and how to get help if you’ve experienced rape, child abuse and/ or any other kind of sexual violence from the email address below. You can also find information on advocacy and Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) services, counselling and therapeutic services as well as helplines and emotional support.
National Rape and Sexual Abuse Helpline number 0808 802 9999 (12pm - 2.30pm and 7pm - 9.30pm).
Mind - a national mental health charity providing advice and support to anyone with a mental health problem.
Info Line: 0300 123 3393
SurvivorsUK is the longest established service providing support to adult males who have experienced any form of sexual violence. They provide a national web-chat and text-chat support service available seven days per week and counselling (individual and group) from their London premises. They also host a male victim focused independent sexual violence adviser (ISVA).
Contact SurvivorsUK: 02035983898; help@survivorsuk.org; www.survivorsuk.org
Samaritans is available round the clock, every day of the year. Talk to us any time you like in your own way, about whatever’s getting to you.
Call Samaritans anytime on: 116 123
Or email: jo@samaritans.org
The Survivors Trust is a national umbrella agency for specialist rape and sexual abuse support organisations for women, men, young people and children.
National Support Line offering advice, information and support freephone: 0808 801 0818; contact details for local support organisations: www.thesurvivorstrust.org/find-support
You may find these websites helpful if you want advice on other matters:
NHS Choices is the online gateway to the National Health Service in England, providing health and lifestyle advice, along with information about local services and the latest health news.
Citizens Advice is a network of 316 independent charities throughout the United Kingdom that give free, confidential information and advice to assist people with money, legal, consumer and other problems.
If you are in crisis
If you don’t feel you can keep yourself safe and are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide which you think you may act on, please consider the below options:
- Go to any hospital A&E department or ask for an emergency appointment with your GP
- Call 999, ask for an ambulance if you can’t get to A&E or ask someone else to call for you
- If you need some support but don’t want to go to A&E, then call Samaritans 24/7 (Freephone 116 123) or NHS 111 (England - dial 111) or NHS Direct (Wales - dial 111).
Go to any hospital A&E department or ask for an emergency appointment with your GPGet in touch
If you wish to ask a question about the Inquiry or if you have information to support our investigations please get in touch:
- You can call the Inquiry Information line on: 0800 917 1000 Open weekdays 9am-5pm. Calls are free and do not show on your bill.
- You can share your experience through the Truth Project, either by emailing us at contact@iicsa.org.uk or using our online form.
- You can write to us via Freepost IICSA INDEPENDENT INQUIRY (no stamp required) We are working hard to ensure you are still able to reach us this way but please be advised that due to the pandemic there may be a delay with postal correspondence.
You can call the Inquiry Information line on: 0800 917 1000 Open weekdays 9am-5pm. Calls are free and do not show on your bill.
You can share your experience through the Truth Project, either by emailing us at 
You can write to us via Freepost IICSA INDEPENDENT INQUIRY (no stamp required) We are working hard to ensure you are still able to reach us this way but please be advised that due to the pandemic there may be a delay with postal correspondence. We aim to respond to all calls, emails and letters within 15 working days, however, it may take longer to respond in busier periods.
We're serious about your privacy
We are required to ensure that all personal and sensitive information is safely stored. At the end of the Inquiry, all your information will be securely destroyed. We also meet all data protection regulations.