Bluestar ProjectThe Bluestar Project is co-produced in partnership with local and national sexual violence services providers
Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS) is a specialist support service for people in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, or South Gloucestershire, who have experienced any form of sexual violence, at any point in their lives.
Womankind provides confidential and professional counselling, helpline service and webchat for women who have experienced sexual abuse or rape. It is a specialist provider of women-only services. Womankind aims to improve women’s mental health and wellbeing.
Kinergy is a specialist counselling agency offering support for survivors of sexual abuse and sexual violence who live in Bristol, South Glos, BANES & North Somerset. Kinergy is an inclusive charity offering support to all genders aged 16 and above.
Southmead Project provides free counselling and support for survivors of abuse and addiction. Its long-term counselling supports survivors who have experienced recent or historic abuse, including sexual, physical or emotional abuse, domestic violence or neglect.
Safe Link offers sexual assault follow up and empowerment for any victim of rape, sexual assault, or abuse.
The Bridge exists to support anyone of any age who has been raped or sexually assaulted. It provides emotional, medical and practical care and support for anyone assaulted at anytime.
Somerset Phoenix Project is a specialist service supporting the development of professionals in Somerset. It is here to reduce the negative impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) on the lives of children and families living in Somerset.
The Mix is a UK based charity that provides free, confidential support for young people under 25 via online, social and mobile.
We are committed to working with survivors to transform the response to sexual violence and abuse in the UK. Through Bluestar we have Survivor Voice Groups and work with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, parents/carers and children and young/people to amplify their voice for change. The groups are led by our Authentic Voice Coordinators at the Green House. We work with the Survivors Voice’s Charter to enhance our approach to the safe and ethical conduct of research in this area. Importantly, our research is led by survivors of sexual abuse and their allies.
The Bluestar Project is supported by collaboration with our Best Practice Advisory Group. This advisory group is made up of national and local providers of childhood sexual abuse services, commissioners, and policymakers, as well as specialists in the area of online support services and pre-trial therapies. Their expertise informs everything we do. Meetings are held quarterly where we shape and share research findings and develop together practice recommendations/resources designed to improve services for childhood sexual abuse.
Our advisory group includes members from Barnardos, Children’s Society, NSPCC, our project partners, LimeCulture, CSA Centre, NHS England, Bristol children’s social services, advocacy services (Imara), the Lighthouse, the National Police Chiefs Council, Lucy Faithful Foundation, the CPS and other research teams with a specialism in the area of childhood sexual abuse.