What is sexual violence & abuse?
Sexual violence and abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, or background. It is never the survivor’s fault.
Sexual Violence is any sexual act or behaviour that happens without consent. It can include a wide range of unwanted sexual activity, from inappropriate touching to rape and is always about power and control, not desire.
Understanding Sexual Violence
Sexual violence and abuse can happen in many ways, including:
Rape or attempted rape
Rape happens when someone is forced or coerced into sex without their consent. It’s a serious crime and is never the survivor’s fault.
Sexual assault
Any sexual act or contact carried out without consent. It can include touching, penetration, or other acts that make someone feel violated or unsafe.
Unwanted sexual touching or groping
Being touched in a sexual way without permission. This can happen anywhere – in public, at work, or in relationships – and is never acceptable.
Being pressured, tricked or coerced into sex
Consent must be freely given. If someone feels scared, manipulated, or unable to say no, that is not consent.
Sexual activity when someone is asleep, intoxicated or unable to consent
A person who is asleep, unconscious, or under the influence cannot give consent. Any sexual act in these circumstances is abuse.
Sexual exploitation
When someone is taken advantage of or groomed for sex, often in exchange for money, gifts, attention, or protection. It’s abuse, even if the person doesn’t realise it at the time.
Child sexual abuse
Any sexual contact or behaviour with a child. It’s always abuse and never the child’s fault.
Image-based abuse (revenge porn)
Sharing or threatening to share sexual images or videos without consent is a form of sexual violence and can cause deep harm.
Sexual harassment
Unwanted sexual comments, gestures, or advances – whether in person, at work, in public, or online. Harassment can make people feel unsafe and disrespected.
Stealthing
The non-consensual removal of a condom during sex. It violates trust and consent and is a form of sexual violence.
Spiking
Secretly adding alcohol or drugs to someone’s drink or body to exploit or harm them sexually. Spiking is a criminal act and never the victim’s fault.
Sexual abuse can happen once or over a long period of time, may involve strangers, family members, partners or people in positions of trust.
What is Consent?
Consent means freely agreeing to take part in a sexual activity. It must be:
Given voluntarily
Informed you know what you’re agreeing to
Ongoing you can change your mind at any time
Specific agreeing to one thing doesn’t mean agreeing to everything
Someone cannot give consent if they are under pressure, asleep, drunk, high, or don’t fully understand what’s happening.
How Sexual Abuse Can Affect You
Everyone reacts differently to sexual violence. Some common emotional and physical effects include:
Shame, guilt or self-blame
Flashbacks, nightmares, or panic attacks
Depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts
Difficulty trusting others or forming relationships
Feeling numb or disconnected
Problems with eating, sleeping or self-harm
Feeling unsafe, even in familiar places
These are normal responses to trauma. If something happened to you, recently or in the past, you are not alone and support is available.
My ISVA made me feel at ease and made me realise it wasn’t my fault! The support I never knew existed.
Getting Support
Whether the abuse happened yesterday or years ago, your experience matters and you deserve help.
We offer:
A safe, confidential space to talk
Support to understand what happened and how it’s affected you
Practical and emotional help including counselling, advocacy, and support through the justice system
Support from a trained ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) if you choose to report to the police
Help with housing, safety planning, and accessing other services
Trauma-informed care that centres your voice, your pace, and your choices
You don’t have to report to the police to access support. Everything you tell us is treated with sensitivity and respect.
In immediate danger?
Call 999
If you can’t speak, press 55 when prompted to use the Silent Solution
Get in Touch
If you’ve experienced sexual violence or abuse, recent or historic, if you’re worried about someone else, we’re here for you.
Get in Touch
You are not to blame. You are believed. And you deserve support and healing.