Please share your views on the needs of people providing informal support to survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Sarah West is a Bristol based postgraduate researcher who would value your input for a research project focusing on people who are trying to help their friends, partners, family members etc., who have experienced sexual violence and abuse at any age (informal supporters).
Estimates suggest that 20% of women, 15% of girls, and 5% of boys in the UK have experienced sexual violence and abuse, and we know that one of the most important things for survivors' recovery is having a supportive person in their lives. Providing support to family members and friends who have experienced abuse is challenging, and can take a toll. I am seeking to understand where informal supporters access help for the impact of being in this role and what needs professionals identify in this group.
The project would really benefit from understanding more about the views of practitioners within social care teams on the impacts of providing informal support and the responses that are provided to those in this role.
Please take a few minutes to share your experiences relating to the issues that arise for people providing informal support, any provision within your organisation for them (or lack thereof), and what you think could be done to help informal supporters with this role. You will not be asked to discuss individual cases.
You can participate by completing an anonymous online survey, which should take around 10 minutes, at https://coventry.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/informal_supporters.
If you would prefer a conversation to discuss these issues or have any questions, please get in touch at wests13@coventry.ac.uk.