Our Support
Victims First Services
Our Adult Service provides emotional support, advocacy, and practical help and information to adult victims of any crime.
Run by Victim Support, support will primarily be delivered through specialist group work provision alongside online and telephone support both of which will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1-2-1 support options will also be available.
Our Children and Young People’s Service is available to children and young people aged 5 – 18 years old.
The service, delivered by SAFE!, works with young people affected by any crime. In particular, SAFE! has extensive experience in supporting young people who have witnessed or been a victim of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
The service will offer a wide variety of support options for victims including story-telling, play therapy, restorative approaches, therapeutic listening and group activities in addition to a comprehensive digital support package.
SAFE! also provides support for parents and guardians including regular peer support groups and 1-2-1 telephone support.
Victims and witnesses in need of support can make an online referral via our Children and Young People's referral form. This form can also be used by parents, guardians or professionals wanting to refer a child or young person into the Children and Young People's Service.
Read more about the Children and Young People’s Service.
Our Sexual Violence Service will work to support victims of any form of sexual violence.
Delivered by Hope After Harm through specialist Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs), the service will offer 1-2-1 support, which will include supporting victims through the criminal justice system, as well as a range of specialist group work provision.
SilverCloud is a self-help platform where victims can access help and information as well as emotional coping strategies to help them manage the impact of crime.
Access to this support can be provided by contacting Victims First.
The Victims First Specialist Counselling Service has been developed by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC). The service aims to coordinate and improve access to psychotherapeutic counselling for victims of crime, to increase the pool of appropriate counsellors and to reduce barriers for those requiring counselling.
Counselling referrals are only accepted through our specialist services and may not be offered to everyone.
Service feedback
If you have contacted or been referred into Victims First and have feedback on the service you have recieved, please click this link to complete our short feedback form.
Victim Information Pack
The information pack informs victims of their rights and entitlements under the Victims' Code and what will happen in the criminal justice process following the reporting of the crime to the police. It also assists in finding support services which can help victims cope with the impact of the crime. A seperate leaflet has also been produced to support victims whose case has been designated as ‘no further action’.
You can download and print both the information pack and leaflet below