Our Support
Victims First Services
VFESS provides caseworkers and volunteers to listen, provide emotional support, advocacy, and practical help and information. The service is delivered by Thames Valley Partnership and supports victims and witnesses of crime as well as friends and family of victims.
To make a referral into the service, please make an online referral or contact our Victims First Hub on 0300 1234 148.
The Victims First Specialist Service helps those with longer term or more complex needs and focuses on the individual and the impact the crime has had on them, regardless of the crime they have experienced.
It provides specialist support for victims and witnesses of crime including rape and sexual abuse, exploitation and modern slavery and can provide Restorative Justice services.
Thames Valley Partnership is delivering the service across the Thames Valley, working in partnership with Oxford Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre (OSARCC) and Trust House Reading.
Read more about the Victims First Specialist Service
To make a referral into the service, please make an online referral or for further information you can contact a member of the team on 01844 487987
Our Young Victims Service is available to children and young people aged 5 – 17 years old.
The service is delivered by SAFE! It works with young people who are dealing with the effects of any crime and, in particular, has extensive experience in supporting young people who have witnessed or been a victim of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Read more about the Young Victims Service
If you would like to get support from our Young Victims Service for yourself or someone else you can do so by completing SAFE's online referral form.
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.
The Forbury Gardens Services has been set up in response to the incident that took place on 20th June 2020 in Reading.
The incident resulted in fatalities and serious injuries of those directly involved and affected the lives of many more who were at the scene as well as their family and friends.
The service is provided by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Traumatic Stress Service and Victims First and uses a proactive approach to reach out to those who are affected by the incident and identify if there is any further support that is required.
Read more about the Forbury Gardens Service
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 them 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