The Survivors Trust
"The Survivors Trust is a national umbrella agency for specialist voluntary sector services working with survivors of rape, sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse.
Our member groups are located throughout the UK and Ireland. We welcome diversity, and yet each of our member groups is determined to be part of an extensive group that works to empower other groups and services through shared ideas and resources."
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 key agencies were: CIS’ters, Fire in Ice, Incest and Sexual Abuse Support, One in Four and Survivors UK. Meetings were held in London and it quickly became clear that the energy at that time, and the synergy it created – was both powerful and optimistic.
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 One in Four and 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 2006, The Survivors Trust has over 80 member groups. "