Hope After Harm

13/06/2026

Hope After Harm welcomes this week's Home Office proposals calling on technology companies to do more to prevent children from taking, sending, receiving or viewing explicit images on their devices.

Through our Family Matters service, we see the devastating impact online child sexual abuse can have on victims, families and communities. Prevention must be built into technology from the outset, rather than relying solely on families and professionals to deal with the consequences after harm has occurred.

Technology alone is not the answer, but these proposals are a positive step towards creating safer online spaces for children and young people.

Read our full response here https://hopeafterharm.org.uk/other-news/online-protection-proposals-a-response-from-hope-after-harm/

12/06/2026

For some people, the final whistle doesn't bring relief.

Studies have found reports of domestic abuse rise by 26% when England play and win or draw, and by 38% when they lose.

Domestic abuse is never caused by football. But major sporting events can intensify existing abusive behaviour.

This tournament season, take a moment to learn the signs and know where support is available.

Bright Sky, delivered globally by Hope After Harm with Vodafone Foundation and available in the UK from our partners Hestia offers practical support for anyone experiencing abuse or worried about someone they know.

brightsky.org

Because support is a team sport. Vodafone Foundation Hestia Charity

Read more online https://hopeafterharm.org.uk/resources/when-the-final-whistle-blows-abuse-doesnt-stop-combatting-domestic-abuse-during-the-fifa-world-cup-2026/

09/06/2026

Someone you know might need help this summer. 💙

Research shows that domestic abuse reports rise during men's football tournaments. As millions follow their teams over the coming weeks, it's important that survivors can quickly find the professional support they need.

The Bright Sky app has been updated to include dedicated advice on how to support people during major football tournaments.

Bright Sky is free to download and helps people recognise the signs of domestic abuse, then find professional support, quickly and safely.

📱 Download Bright Sky free from the App Store or Google Play - or visit https://uk.bright-sky.org/en/home

Vodafone Foundation Hestia Charity

06/06/2026

To draw Volunteers week to a close we asked one of our new trustee's Sophy to give us an insight in to what inspired her to join us as a trustee recently..

What inspired you to become a volunteer? Volunteering is part of who I am. I think it's important to support others to grow and volunteering is a way of doing that.

Why were you drawn to Hope After Harm? I was drawn to support Hope After Harm because having the chance to rebuild life after a traumatic event is necessary but not something everyone is supported to do.

What are you hoping to get out of working with Hope After Harm? For me it's partly about supporting others and partly about growing myself. I hope to enhance my understanding of organisational governance to complement my day job.

Have you volunteered previously? I’ve been volunteering for years, I started as a scout leader when I was a teenager and before this role I was a chair of a primary school governing body.

How do you hope your experience (lived or professional) will impact the Hope After Harm service users? I am passionate about inclusion so I hope I can advocate for all service users no matter their background.

Join us in thanking Sophy and all of our other volunteers and trustees who make the work we do at Hope After Harm possible.

05/06/2026

As part of Volunteers' Week, we're delighted to share this video featuring some of our trustees, who talk about what first inspired their connection with Hope After Harm and why they chose to join our Board.

Their passion, experience and commitment help shape the work we do every day, supporting young people and survivors across our community.

A heartfelt thank you to all our trustees for the time, knowledge and guidance they give to help us make a lasting difference.

03/06/2026

This week is volunteers week which is the perfect opportunity for us to find out more about our brilliant volunteers and what drives them to work along side our teams supporting Young People and Survivors.

Meet Ben who has been volunteering with our New Leaf Young People's Project Team supporting young people as a mentor.

We asked Ben what drew him to volunteer with us and why it means so much to support our work with young people.

"I wanted to start giving back and not just taking. I felt that i was in a position to offer s help and advice to a young person in need, do something positive without any agenda or desire for anything in return. Working with young people who need a break, advice, and guidance appealed to me. If i can help just one person get there life back on track a little it will have been worth it

I just want to help a young person feel more confident and feel like someone cares and has their back. Achieving that would be amazing.

I have been through my own tough times, bereavement , split family, difficult school, drug use and I have built a positive and successful life on the whole! I think I know what works, what is healthy and what is worth avoiding. Knowing the small steps needed to navigate out of trouble and into fulfilment, confidence and hopefully a little happiness."

Join us in thanking Ben for his work to ensure that young people get the support they need.

02/06/2026

Our volunteers are a critical part of our provision and ensure that our services reach those who really need it.

Thanks to Ellen* and Victims First for highlighting our volunteers

Volunteers are uniquely special people that give time out of their own lives to make a difference to someone else’s.

In the victim’s sector, many people volunteer to support others having experienced crime themselves.

Ellen* (not her real name) volunteers as a peer supporter in our Thames Valley Sexual Violence Service supporting victim-survivors of r**e and sexual violence. Our Sexual Violence Service is provided by Hope After Harm.

She said: “Volunteering for Hope After Harm has given me an additional sense of purpose. Even in my short time volunteering I’ve developed new skills and confidence within myself.

“As a previous victim of crime, the ability to give back and use my unique insights to support others has been very fulfilling. The coffee and crafts group allows service users to socialise in a non-judgemental and understanding environment, reducing stigma and the sense of loneliness many service users can experience.”

Hope After Harm established peer support groups to provide a safe and supportive space for survivors to connect through shared experiences. Delivered with the support of dedicated volunteers, the groups play an important role in recovery and rebuilding confidence after trauma.

This Volunteers’ Week we would like to thank Ellen* (not her real name) and all the other volunteer peer supporters that are creating opportunities for understanding, belonging and hope for survivors through connection with others.

If you live in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire or Milton Keynes and have experienced sexual violence, our Sexual Violence Service is here to support you.

Support is available whether the experience was recent or historical, and regardless of whether it was reported to the police.

If you’d like support, call the Victims First Hub today on 0300 1234 148 or contact us via live chat on our website.

01/06/2026

This week is volunteers week which is the perfect opportunity for us to find out more about our brilliant volunteers and what drives them to work along side our teams supporting Young People and Survivors.

Meet Emma - Emma has been volunteering with our New Leaf Young People's Project Team since December supporting young people as a mentor.

We asked Emma what drew her to volunteer with us and why it means so much to support our work with young people.

"I've wanted to do something to help young people for a number of years. My children are older now, and I have some free time again. When I saw the volunteer role advertised on my local page, I took the plunge and applied!

I'd found out about the charity from a friend who was also a volunteer, and it appealed to me as I wanted to help young people. As HAH is local to where I live, that was also a big draw for me personally.

I hope I'll gain experience in volunteer work, and develop my mentoring young people skills. As HAH is local to me, Im also pleased Im helping my local community. Ive done small amounts of volunteering at my children's schools, their PTA groups, and children's activities at my local church, but no volunteer roles through a charity before.

I hope my lived experiences from my childhood, together with what Ive learned being a mother myself, means I can relate to some of the challenges these young people may be facing. I know how important it is to feel safe, and just need that one person to listen and help."

⭐️⭐️ Please join us in thanking Emma for giving up her valuable time to support the wellbeing of young people in our community.

29/05/2026

We are pleased to be working alongside other expert organisations and welcome the additional funding to support the victims of sexual violence, domestic abuse and stalking in the Thames Valley

18 specialist services supporting victims of domestic abuse, r**e and sexual violence and stalking across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes will share total funding of over £3.1 million over the next two years, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, has confirmed.

The funding will support the continued provision of Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) and Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs), a Stalking Advocacy Service including Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers (ISACs), legal advice for domestic abuse victims, support for male victims of r**e and sexual abuse and other specialist provision to help victim-survivors cope with, recover from, and move forward after the traumatic impact of crime.

The PCC has also already confirmed funding amounts for 2027/28 to provide more stability for the sector, post-holders and service-users.

The 18 organisations receiving funding from the PCC are: AAFDA - Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse, Aurora New Dawn, Aylesbury Women's Aid, Browns Community Services CIC, FLAG DV, Hope After Harm, We Are Hourglass, Mk Act Charity, Parents And Children Together - PACT, Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse, Refugee Resource, SAASS Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, SAFE Support for Young People Affected by Crime, Sunrise Multicultural Project, Survivor Space Oxfordshire, The Dash Charity, Trust House and Wycombe Women's Aid.

Read our full release via the link in the comments below 👇

21/05/2026

Hope After Harm welcomes the publication of the HMICFRS spotlight report on the policing response to online child sexual abuse.

The report recognises the significant impact these investigations can have on non-offending family members and highlights the importance of independent specialist support. We are pleased to see our Family Matters service referenced as an example of trauma-informed support currently working alongside six police forces across England.

This is an important step in recognising that families affected by these investigations also need support, guidance and safeguarding.

Read the full report online https://hopeafterharm.org.uk/hope-after-harm-news/hope-after-harm-welcomes-the-publication-of-the-hmicfrs-spotlight-report-on-the-policing-response-to-online-child-sexual-abuse-and-the-management-of-registered-sex-offenders/