What is CSA?

Childhood Sexual Abuse is where a child or young person is forced, manipulated or tricked to engage in a sexual act. If this has happened to you, you may not have realised at the time that what was happening was abuse. The sexual act may be something that happened online or face to face with someone. Sexual acts can involve lots of different things. One ‘type’ of sexual abuse is not necessarily ‘worse’ than another. It is never your fault that you were abused and help is available.

Who can I talk to if I have experienced CSA?

If you want to talk to someone straight away there are options for you.

SARSAS offer a helpline with specially trained volunteers that is free to call for young people of all genders, aged 13+. The number and opening times are:               0808 801 0456

                                           Mon & Fri 11am – 2pm,
                                       Tue, Wed and Thu 6pm – 8pm

Childline provides a service that is also free. You can call, email or chat online to trained counsellors. Anyone under 19 can use their service. Their website with all this information and more is: www.childline.org.uk/get-support

If you haven’t already, you can request support from the Phoenix Project by filling in a form (here) or asking an adult you trust to fill one in for you (here).