Supporting an Adult Disclosing Childhood Abuse
An adult may disclose abuse that happened in their childhood years or decades after it took place. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) Final Report, published in 2022, set out that delayed disclosure is the norm, not the exception. There is no time limit in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland for reporting most child sexual offences to police, and historic cases are still investigated. Equally, many survivors choose not to report to police, and that is a valid choice. The first job of anyone receiving a disclosure is to listen, believe, and support the survivor to take whatever next step feels right to them.
Immediate danger — call 999
If the survivor is in mental health crisis or at risk of suicide, call 999 or go to A&E. Samaritans can be reached on 116 123 (24/7) and Papyrus HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 for under-35s. If the alleged abuser is still in contact with children, that is a current safeguarding concern — call 999 (immediate risk), 101, or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.
What to report
- •Childhood abuse disclosed by an adult — sexual, physical, emotional, or neglect
- •Information that suggests the alleged abuser may still have access to children
- •Disclosures linked to institutions — schools, care homes, faith settings, sports clubs
- •Any pattern where multiple survivors describe the same person or setting
- •Concerns that records may have been destroyed or evidence is at risk
How to report
NAPAC — National Association for People Abused in Childhood
When to use
When an adult survivor wants confidential support to talk about childhood abuse
How to contact
Call the NAPAC support line on 0808 801 0331 (free, check napac.org.uk for current hours) or email [email protected]. NAPAC is a survivor-led charity that supports adults abused in any way as children.
What to expect
Trained support line workers listen without judgement and help the survivor think through options at their own pace. NAPAC does not make referrals on the survivor's behalf without consent.
The Survivors Trust
When to use
When the survivor wants specialist support around sexual abuse or rape in childhood, including local services
How to contact
Call the helpline on 0808 801 0818 (free, check thesurvivorstrust.org for hours). The Survivors Trust is an umbrella body for specialist sexual violence services across the UK.
What to expect
Helpline workers can signpost to local Rape Crisis Centres, ISVAs (Independent Sexual Violence Advisers), and counselling services, and discuss options for criminal justice or civil routes.
Police — 101 (or 999 if a child is at current risk)
When to use
When the survivor decides they want to report a criminal offence, or when the alleged abuser may still be in contact with children
How to contact
Call 101 and ask to speak to the police force area where the abuse took place. Explain it is a report of non-recent (historic) child abuse. The force will usually allocate a specialist officer.
What to expect
There is no statutory time limit on reporting most child sexual offences. A specialist officer will arrange an Achieving Best Evidence interview at the survivor's pace. Investigations of non-recent abuse can take many months and may involve other forces if the abuser has moved.
Local authority children's services (MASH)
When to use
When the alleged abuser may still have access to children — for example a relative, teacher, coach, or community figure
How to contact
Contact the children's services in the area where the abuser now lives or works, via gov.uk/report-child-abuse-to-local-council. You can do this even if the survivor does not want to report to police.
What to expect
Children's services will assess whether children currently in contact with that adult are at risk and may carry out enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989.
Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA)
When to use
When the survivor wants ongoing support through a criminal investigation, civil claim, or simply to understand options
How to contact
ISVAs are based in Rape Crisis Centres, SARCs (Sexual Assault Referral Centres), and specialist charities. The Survivors Trust and Rape Crisis England and Wales (rapecrisis.org.uk) can locate one. Self-referral is usually accepted.
What to expect
An ISVA is an independent advocate for the survivor through criminal justice, health, and other processes. They do not provide therapy but coordinate access to support.
Truth Project legacy and IICSA Final Report
When to use
When the survivor wants to read what the inquiry found and the recommendations being implemented
How to contact
The Truth Project closed in October 2021, but its experiences shaped the IICSA Final Report. Find the report and recommendations at iicsa.org.uk.
What to expect
The Final Report's recommendations include a national redress scheme and mandatory reporting in England, both subject to government action. Reading the report can help survivors understand the wider context of institutional response.
Evidence checklist
Gather this information before or during your report. Do not delay reporting while collecting evidence — but preserve what you can.
- Contemporaneous notes — write down what was disclosed in the survivor's own words as soon as practical, with the date and time. Do not interview or push for more detail.
- Approximate dates, places, schools, care homes, or institutions involved
- Names or descriptions of the alleged abuser, only if the survivor freely shares them
- Whether the alleged abuser may still be in contact with children — this changes the safeguarding picture
- Any documents the survivor has kept — diaries, letters, photographs, medical records
- Whether the survivor has told anyone else, and what response they received
What to say
You do not need to use a script, but this template may help if you are nervous about making the call. Adapt it to your circumstances.
"Thank you for telling me. I believe you. You did not deserve what happened. You don't have to decide anything right now. There are people who specialise in this — NAPAC on 0808 801 0331 and the Survivors Trust on 0808 801 0818 — and they can talk things through with you. If at any point you want to report to police, you can call 101 and there is no time limit. If you are worried about children who may be in contact with that person now, we can think about that together. What would feel most helpful to you next?"
What happens next
If the survivor chooses to report to police, an officer trained in non-recent abuse will take a statement at the survivor's pace, often over several sessions. The Crown Prosecution Service will then decide whether to bring charges. If the survivor does not want to report, that is their choice — support from NAPAC, the Survivors Trust, ISVAs, or NHS specialist services can continue without any police involvement. Where there is a current safeguarding risk to other children, professionals should still refer to children's services even if the survivor does not wish to report personally.
What not to do
- ✗Do not promise confidentiality you cannot keep — explain you may share information if a child is at current risk
- ✗Do not push the survivor towards police if they are not ready — disclosure is theirs to control
- ✗Do not investigate yourself, contact the alleged abuser, or post on social media
- ✗Do not assume the survivor wants therapy, a hug, or to be 'fixed' — ask what they need
- ✗Do not minimise by saying 'it was a long time ago' or 'they're probably dead by now' — neither is relevant to whether the survivor needs support
Frequently asked questions
Is there a time limit for reporting historic child sexual abuse?
No. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland there is no statutory time limit for prosecuting most sexual offences against children, including offences committed many decades ago. Scotland's law also allows non-recent prosecutions in most cases. Police take historic reports seriously and have specialist teams.
What if the survivor doesn't want to involve police?
That is their right. Specialist support through NAPAC, the Survivors Trust, Rape Crisis Centres, and the NHS does not require a police report. The exception is where a child is at current risk from the same abuser — in those cases, the appropriate response is a referral to children's services to protect the child, while still respecting the adult survivor's choices about their own report.
What if the situation feels urgent right now?
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999. For mental health crisis, the survivor can call Samaritans on 116 123, Papyrus on 0800 068 4141 (under-35s), or text SHOUT to 85258. NAPAC (0808 801 0331) and the Survivors Trust (0808 801 0818) offer specialist support. For a decision tree, see /tools/reporting-route-finder.
Sources and further information
- The Survivors Trust — The Survivors Trust
- IICSA Final Report — Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
- Rape Crisis England and Wales — Rape Crisis England and Wales
- NSPCC Helpline — NSPCC
This guidance is for informational purposes. It is not a substitute for emergency services or professional safeguarding support. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 (UK) or 911 (US) now.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-14. This page provides general educational information, not legal or professional safeguarding advice. UK helplines and legislation may change — verify current details with the relevant organisation.