Supporting Victims and Witnesses

Adult Victim Support Service 

The Adult Victim Support Service is part of the London Victim and Witness Service and is delivered by Victim Support. This service acts as the main ‘front door’ and triage mechanism for victim/witness referrals in London and provides tailored support for victims of crime aged 18+. 

The range of support includes: 

• A 24/7/365 support line and live chat function to provide information, advice and signposting   

• A suite of digital materials to support victims/witnesses on their journey to cope and recover from crime and navigate the justice system 

• One to one casework offer providing specialist practical and emotional support 

• Support for adult victims and witnesses of traumatic community incidents and major crime incidents 

How to access the service:  

More information on the Adult Victim Support Service - Adult Service - London Victim and Witness Service (londonvws.org.uk) 

Online referral form - Get support - London Victim and Witness Service (londonvws.org.uk) 

24hr support line: 0808 1689 291 and live chat service  

Domestic Abuse Service 

The Domestic Abuse Service is delivered by Victim Support. The service provides support to people aged 16 years and over who are experiencing domestic violence or abuse in London.  

Caseworkers and Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) work with victims to support immediate and long-term safety, and wellbeing for service users. Support is provided to help victim/survivors understand their rights, plan and leave safely, advocate with professionals, court support, dealing with social services, support for children, accessing safe accommodation, accessing immigration advice, debt and money advice/advocacy, information and support where there has been sexual violence, mental health support and referring onto specialist services. 

Alongside the overall provision, IDVAs that specialise in support for the following groups is also available: 

• young survivors,  

• male survivors,  

• same-sex relationships, 

• LGBTQ+, 

• Black and Global Majority Ethnic Communities, and, 

• People with disabilities. 

If you think you are in immediate danger from your abuser, please call 999 and ask for the police. 

How to access the service:  

Website - Domestic Abuse Service - London Victim and Witness Service (londonvws.org.uk)  

Online referral form - Get support - London Victim and Witness Service (londonvws.org.uk) 

24hr support line: 0808 1689 291 and live chat service  

Southall Black Sisters  

London Holistic Wrap Around & Advocacy Service (LHAWAS)  is a Pan London provision and has a focus on accommodation support to women with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). Wrap around support is provided to migrant women, trafficked women, and women at risk of entering prostitution. Strong advocacy focus including legal, immigration, housing and language support. The partnership contains 5 agencies; SBS, Solace, AWRC, Ashiana, Nia. 

The programme delivers direct accommodation and subsistence, casework, immigration support, CJS support, counselling, groupwork, supported outings and day trips, residential programmes, community outreach and training for professionals. LHAWAS works closely with multiple VAWG partners across London to ensure victims receive a holistic response, have set up good arrangements with solicitors and supporting women through legal processes. 

The range of support includes: 

• A free and confidential helpline.  

• No Recourse Fund to help people access refuge or safe accommodation.  

• Assisting women to access relevant services that are needed for their protection and redress, ranging from accessing safe housing, the police, welfare, and mental health services, to the legal system. 

How to access the service: 

Website: Home - Southall Black Sisters 

Email: [email protected]  

Phone number: 0208 571 0800 (open between 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday) 

Ascent Advice Plus  

Ascent Advice Plus Project provides specialist advice and counselling and enhances the existing Ascent project funded by London Councils: adding extra capacity, advice caseworkers and working with women for up to 26 weeks. The service includes the Family Law advice line, consultancy and casework expertise to assist meeting a broader range of diverse needs; extension of reach across all London boroughs. Ascent is a partnership project that is part of the London Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Consortium. Solace Women’s Aid is lead the partner, working with 14 organisations This partnership contains 17 agencies; Solace, Ashiana, Asian Womens Resource Centre, WRC, Chinese IAC, IMECE, IKWRO, Jewish Women's Aid, LAWRS, Nia, Rights of Women, SBS, WGN, WRC, Galop, Sign Health, Respond, Stay Safe East. 

The range of support includes: 

• 1 to 1 counselling and advice. 

• Group work. 

• Legal advice and training. 

• No Recourse to Public Funds assistance. 

• Live webchat. 

How to access the service: 

Website: https://www.solacewomensaid.org/our-services/ascent-partnership/  

Email: [email protected]  

Helpline: 0808 802 5562 (opening hours Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm) 

Young Londoners’ Victim Service 

The Young Londoners’ Victim Service is part of the London Victim and Witness Service and is delivered by Catch22 and delivery partners Advance, London Youth and Kooth. The service provides practical and emotional support to young victims and witnesses of crime aged 4-17 in London, whether or not the incident has been reported to the police. The Young Londoner’s Victim Service also provides: 

• Support on a one to one basis by trained caseworkers in a confidential space that is suitable for children and young people; 

• Support in the community in the form of trauma-informed training and resources to “trusted adults” who may receive disclosures of victimisation from young people, enabling them to better support the young people who have confided in them 

• Focused, localised support after traumatic community incidents impacting young people 

• Gendered support and mental health support as needed 

How to access the service: 

Website: Young Londoners' Victim Service - London Victim and Witness Service (londonvws.org.uk) 

Online referral form: Get support - London Victim and Witness Service (londonvws.org.uk) 

Telephone: 0808 168 9291(opening hours Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) 

Pre-trial Witness Support Service 

The Pre-trial Witness Support Service is part of the London Victim and Witness Service and is delivered by Victim Support. This service provides specialist pre-trial support for all witnesses, preparing those required to attend court to feel confident and give their best evidence in a criminal trial (excluding defendants and professional witnesses). The support includes a comprehensive needs and support plan tailored to their individual circumstances as well as undertaking pre-trial visits to the court in which the witness will be giving evidence. 

How to access the service: 

More information on the Pre-trial Witness Support Service: Pre-trial Witness Support Service - London Victim and Witness Service (londonvws.org.uk) 

Online referral form: Get support - London Victim and Witness Service (londonvws.org.uk) 

Helpline: 0808 168 9291 and live chat service 

Restorative Justice Service 

The Restorative Justice Service delivered by Calm Mediation as part of London Victim and Witness Service will support both victims and offenders as they consider Restorative Justice. Support offered includes: 

• Conversations with a practitioner to explore and build understanding of restorative justice and restorative approaches 

• Indirect communication with the other party, either victim or offender, e.g. through letters 

• Direct communication in a practitioner facilitated conference  

How to access the service: 

Website: Restorative Justice Service - London Victim and Witness Service (londonvws.org.uk)   

Online referral form:  Get support - London Victim and Witness Service (londonvws.org.uk) 

Telephone: 0808 168 9291 (opening hours Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) 

The National Homicide Service

Providing specialist emotional support and advice for families bereaved by homicide, services include:

• Guidance, advocacy and support through the criminal justice system;
• Practical support such as with funeral arrangements, financial affairs and housing issues;
• Specialist support such as trauma therapy and bereavement counselling;
• Peer Support Service;
• Access to pro-bono legal support;
• Support with murders overseas.

How to access the service

Website

Telephone: 0300 303 1984

London Survivors Gateway

The Gateway provides a single point of contact for survivors of sexual violence, their families and agencies.

The service provides information on what help is available in London after rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse or any form of sexual violence, along with support to access these services. The Gateway works with anyone aged 13 or above regardless of gender, sexuality, disability, language, ethnicity or immigration status.

The Gateway is a partnership between the four London Rape Crisis Centres, Galop, Survivors UK and the Havens and is run by the Women and Girls Network.

How to access the service

Website

Telephone: 0808 801 0860

Online reporting form

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is a multi-agency service for children and young people who have experienced any form of sexual abuse, including exploitation. They offer a child-centred approach, providing guidance and support to help children and young people recover.
This service is available to children and young people (0-18) and adults aged 18-25 with learning disabilities in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington.

How to access the service

Referrals can come from parents or carers, schools, social workers and the police. Young people over 13 years can also refer themselves.

Website

Email

Telephone: 020 3049 0010

Multi-Agency Stalking Intervention Project (MASIP)

MASIP supports closer and more coordinated working arrangements between local services to better manage the behaviour of stalking perpetrators to reduce the risk to victims and the community.

MASIP is a multi-agency partnership (including police, mental health, probation, crown prosecution service, and a stalking advocate from Suzy Lamplugh Trust) which reviews incoming cases daily, with referrals coming in from mental health teams in London Boroughs as well as Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

How to access the service

For advice and support for stalking call the Suzy Lamplugh Trust National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300

CATCH - Community Alliance To Combat Hate

CATCH provides a London-wide hate crime victims' advocacy service to help victims cope and recover, navigate the criminal justice service, increase feelings of safety and reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation.



Specialist support is provided by a consortium including: Galop (tackling homophobia and transphobia), Community Security Trust (tackling antisemitism), Tell MAMA (tackling islamophobia), The Monitoring Group (tackling racism), Choice in Hackney (tackling disability hate crime), and Stay Safe East (tackling disability hate crime).

How to access the service

Racism - The Monitoring Group - Telephone: 020 7582 7438 or email.

Antisemitism - The Community Security Trust - Telephone: 020 8457 9999 or email.

Islamophobia - Tell MAMA - Report online.

Disability hate crime - CATCH - Report online.

LGBT+ hate crime - GALOP - Telephone: 020 7704 2040 or email.

For all other hate crime incidents, report to CATCH online.

The London Children and Young People Violence and Exploitation Support Service

The London Children and Young People Violence & Exploitation Support Service (VESS) supports children and young people up the age of 25 impacted by violence and exploitation in London. These vulnerabilities could include young Londoners affected by serious group offending, county lines exploitation, sexual violence or exploitation in a group violence context, or engagement with youth justice services, among others.

The service aims to provide comprehensive support tailored to the individual circumstances of those accessing the service. The specialist and holistic support provided includes one-to-one support; a gendered approach, including bespoke provision for girls and young women; an integrated housing support offer; as well as the safe collection of children and young adults who come into contact with authorities through suspected county lines in areas outside of London.

The service is delivered by an alliance of Safer London, St Giles Trust, New Horizon Youth Centre, Anna Freud, and MOPAC – the first pan-London alliance of this kind. Additionally, the London Innovation and Improvement Alliance (LIIA) will provide the local authority coordination element of the service, acting on behalf of all London’s local authorities as an alliance partner.

Launched in June 2024, this service brings together and succeeds support previously provided through London Gang Exit (LGE), Empower and Rescue & Response.

How to access the service

Referrals can come from young Londoners directly, their families, friends or community groups, as well as professionals in statutory or non-statutory services.

Referrals to the service can be made through the Safer London Front Door.

If you have any questions or queries about the service, please get in touch with the Front Door referral and screening team at [email protected].

The Rescue element of the service, which facilitates the safe collection of children and young adults who come into contact with authorities through suspected county lines in areas outside of London, can be contacted on 020 3911 9391.

Youth Support in Major Trauma Centres and A&E Departments

Eight Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments and all four Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) in London have embedded youth work teams who support young victims of violence, domestic abuse, and sexual exploitation (aged 11 to 25).

The hospital-based youth work programme is now commissioned by London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).

Taith Services

Taith is an assessment and specialist intervention service for Children and Young People (CYP) aged five to 21 years with harmful or problematic sexual behaviour. Taith aims to enable children to control their harmful sexual behaviours, reduce their risk to others and help them develop safe and healthy relationships.

The service is available in nine boroughs: Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Greenwich, Hammersmith & Fulham, Havering, Kensington & Chelsea, Redbridge, Wandsworth and Westminster.

How to access the service

If you are concerned about sexually harmful or problematic behaviour of a child or young person contact the Taith team:

Telephone: 0207 790 4621

Email