On Tuesday 13th May 2025, we made the incredibly difficult decision to close our waiting list to unfunded self-referrals for our services in York and North Yorkshire. This was due to a combination of factors: sustained high demand, more survivors coming to us via unfunded pathways, and more survivors with complex needs. As a charity, we felt we could no longer carry the safeguarding risks associated with people waiting too long to be seen.

This was not a decision taken lightly.

In the past three months, we have continued to support over 100 survivors a week. We are pleased to report that the number of survivors on our waiting list has dropped from 700 to 500 and the average wait to start counselling has reduced from 18 months to 12-14 months. We’ve further streamlined our systems and processes, and expanded our admin team enabling our counsellors, trauma therapists, and support workers to spend more time delivering frontline services. We are extremely grateful to the team for embracing new ways of working which has allowed us to see more survivors, more quickly.

Whilst we have made good progress, our waiting list will remain closed until at least mid November.

Survive remains the only accredited specialist sexual violence agency delivering support work, counselling, trauma therapy, EMDR psychotherapy and a helpline free-of-charge to adult survivors in York, North Yorkshire, and the East Riding of Yorkshire. Our evidence-based services and interventions are proven to work.

We recently presented an independent evaluation of our work by The University of York to local NHS and Public Health commissioners, which showed large and significant reductions in psychological distress and trauma symptoms in survivors who accessed Survive’s services. We hope these findings will help us secure the additional funds we need to increase therapeutic capacity, re-open our waiting list, and see more survivors more quickly.

We want all adult survivors to have access to our life-changing and life-saving services and interventions, so that they have the chance to heal, rebuild, and thrive. To make this a reality, alongside donations and trust funds, we will need long-term, sustainable investment from both local and national government.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

We have received many messages of love, support, and offers of help. Thank you.

To support Survive and survivors of sexual violence, please consider:

• Donating or Fundraising to help us see those on our waiting list as soon as possible.
• Writing to your local MP about the importance of supporting survivor services.
• Share our message to raise awareness of the urgent need for sustainable funding for this specialist sector.

You can still access our helpline free-of-charge and in confidence. Call Monday to Thursday, 10am – 12noon on 0808 145 1887.