'When You Are Ready' Campaign Launched to Support Survivors of Child Sex Abuse

‘When You Are Ready’ is a new national campaign introduced to support those affected by child sex abuse and exploitation.

The campaign – launched by the national Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Taskforce – encourages victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to come forward and confront their experiences once they are ready to do so.

It is backed by many police forces across England and Wales, together with a number of third party agencies.

‘When You Are Ready’ centres on a hard hitting three minute film which can be viewed online and features the voices of a number of victims and   survivors who have experienced child sexual abuse and exploitation – this includes both contact and online offences. 

The film does not discuss the abuse experienced but details the experience each victim and survivor had in making the hard decision to disclose their abuse to a loved one, support organisation and/or the police, and the impact it had on their life thereafter. 

It's hoped that the film resonates with further victims and survivors highlighting that they are not alone, and this is happening to other people, like them, who are living and thriving.  

NPCC’s lead for Child Protection and Abuse and Investigation, ACC Becky Riggs, said: “We want victims and survivors to feel positive and hopeful after seeing this campaign.  From our work with victims and survivors, we understand it can take many years to process the abuse or exploitation that they experienced. For some, it may even take years just to acknowledge that what they experienced was, in fact, abuse, and not the loving or caring actions of someone they could trust. We also understand, from extensive research undertaken, that ‘justice’ for victims and survivors doesn’t necessarily mean a criminal justice outcome and simply telling someone can be enough. However, if victims do take the hugely difficult decision to disclose their abuse, they should be reassured that there are organisations who can provide help and support, whenever they are ready.”  

This campaign is another positive step towards raising awareness of the devastating effects child sex abuse has on one’s life and to support and encourage others to come forward and report their own similar experiences.