Support for Survivors

Support for Survivors

Our Safeguarding Service is a safe point of contact for survivors and victims of abuse within the Catholic Church. We support survivors who were abused when they were children and those who have been abused as adults.

We recognise that speaking out about abuse can be very difficult and distressing and you may not have felt able to tell anyone before. We are here to support you to share your experiences.

• Email: safeguarding@rcdow.org.uk
• Telephone: 020 7798 9352, and choose option 1

What you can expect when you contact us

• Our Safeguarding Officers will give you space to share your story and time to talk at your own pace.
• It is up to you what and how much you share depending on what you are comfortable with.
• They will listen in a way that is non-judgmental and built on a foundation of respect for you and how you feel.
• They might ask you some questions but this is only so they can better understand your experiences.
• They will talk with you about different support options available.
• They will let you know what will happen next and arrange a time to contact you again to give you feedback or an update.

We refer all disclosures of abuse to statutory agencies (Police, Children’s Services, Adult’s Services) in line with the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency’s guidelines (CSSA). We do this to protect other children and adults from harm. Even if you were abused a long time ago, your abuser might still be working with children or adults and we want to make sure they are not at risk.

Any referrals to statutory agencies will be made in discussion with you and you will be able to choose whether or not you consent to a police investigation.

The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) updated National Policy for the support of those affected by allegations of abuse within a Church setting is available here.

Our Commitment to Survivors

We are aware that talking to someone who works for the Diocese of Westminster about abuse you experienced within the church may feel daunting or you might not feel that you can trust us.

Please be assured that everyone who works in the Safeguarding Service has made a commitment to survivors of abuse and are dedicated to ensuring you are heard and that children and vulnerable adults are kept safe. You can read more about our Commitment to Survivors April 2025.

We also publish an information leaflet called ‘Hurt by Abuse’ which outlines what you can expect from the Safeguarding Service and the support available.

Sources of Support

1.  Hurt by Abuse Leaflet - This is the official leaflet for the Westminster Diocese which contains helpful information for survivors of abuse.
2. Safe in Faith - Caritas Westminster - Providing survivors of domestic abuse, who are part of a faith community, with safe, faith-based support and counselling that is tailored to their needs as believers.
3. Respond Listen Support - This is the official leaflet for the Westminster Diocese about support to survivors of abuse.
4. Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (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
5. Grief to Grace UK; Healing the wounds of abuse - Founded in Pennsylvania in 2006, Grief to Grace now ministers in several dioceses in the USA, Canada and Kingston, Jamaica. With the support of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Southwark, The Most Reverend Peter Smith, the program was first piloted in the UK in 2011 and established as a UK charity in 2014.
6. The Survivors’ Trust (TST)  - UK-wide national umbrella agency for 130 specialist organisations to support the impact of rape, sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse throughout the UK and Ireland.
7. One in Four - Supporting people who have experienced child sexual abuse and trauma
8. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) - offers support to adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.
9. Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICAP) - a charity providing counselling and psychotherapy, providing a space to talk with a trained and experienced professional in a safe, confidential, non-judgmental space.
10. Safe Spaces England and Wales  - independent support service for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

     

Domestic Abuse Support 

1. Refuge - Freephone Helpline 0808 200 0247
2. Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage -  Freephone 0800 027 1234
3. Karma Nirvana -  National honour-based abuse helpline. - 0800 5999 247 or support@karmanirvana.org.uk
4. Sign Health provides support for deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL), 200 3947 2601 or da@signhealth.org.uk
5. Respect Phoneline  - Freephone Helpline - 0808 802 4040
6. Respect Men's Advice Line - Freephone 0808 801 0327
7. Live Fear Free helpline (Wales) - Freephone 0808 80 10 800

Child Abuse Support 

1. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) - Helplines available for adults and children
2. The Children's Society - specialist support that empowers young people to make positive changes and rediscover their hope.
3. Barnardo's - support children and young people who have been abused and help them feel safe again.

Sexual Abuse support 

1. Rape Crisis (England and Wales) - Freephone 0808 500 2222
2. Women's Aid Federation (Northern Ireland) - Freephone 0808 802 1414
3. Southall Black Sisters - offer advocacy and information to Asian and Afro-Caribbean women suffering abuse.

 Other support links 

1. Hourglass - support to an older person or anyone concerned about an older person.
2. Shelter  - provides free confidential information, support and legal advice on all housing & homelessness issues.
3. Galop - support LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence.
4. Survivors Voices is an abuse survivor-led organisation providing resources to improve responses to trauma.  

Your Personal Information

To read about how the Diocese will deal with your personal information, please read the Privacy - Diocese of Westminster

Disclaimer:
Throughout our section, you will find links to external websites. Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly and ensure these links are accurate, up to date, and relevant. However, the Safeguarding Department cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers.  
If you come across any external links that do not work, we would be grateful if you could report them to the web content team or at safeguardingadmin@rcdow.org.uk