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The Survivors Trust (TST) is a UK-wide umbrella organisation, representing around 120 member agencies that provide specialist support to victims and survivors of sexual violence and childhood abuse. Their members span a wide range of services, from specialist counselling, Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (IVSA) and helplines to advocacy and peer support. They offer tailored care for diverse communities of all ages, genders and backgrounds, including marginalised groups such as LGBTQ+ individuals, neurodiverse groups and those from ethnic minority backgrounds.
In addition to representing its members through lobbying and national campaigns, TST actively engages with public sector stakeholders such as the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the Crown Prosecution Service to raise awareness of the need for specialist services for victims and survivors of sexual violence. They also run a national helpline and have recently launched a national online ISVA service to offer vital support and advocacy to survivors.
Over time, as the sector evolved from grassroots beginnings to a more formalised network of support providers, a clear need emerged for consistent, high-quality governance and operational standards. The disparity between organisations, some operating with only a few volunteers, and others with large infrastructures, created challenges in ensuring universally safe, trauma-informed and effective care.
Developing the standards
Recognising these challenges, TST began developing a set of bespoke operational and care standards, informed by lived experiences, and co-created with their member organisations. These standards were designed to provide a clear, inclusive benchmark for care, tailored specifically to services working with survivors of sexual violence and abuse.
Collaboration was central to the development process. Task-and-finish groups were formed to gather input from member agencies, and where appropriate, survivors themselves. The goal was to create standards that reflected the unique needs of the sector while remaining accessible to organisations of all sizes, from small grassroots services to larger regional providers.
The standards cover core service areas including: governance, management, safeguarding, service delivery, trauma-informed counselling, ISVA services, helplines, group-based activities and peer support work. They enable organisations to meet the specific needs of their service users through survivor collaboration, operating to industry best practice and within legislative frameworks.
The accreditation journey
Following the development of these standards, TST embarked on a pilot programme with UKAS to gain accreditation for their inspection process against ISO/IEC 17020:2012, the internationally recognised standard for inspection bodies.
The journey was not without its challenges. A collaborative process between TST and UKAS, particularly with UKAS Head of Development and Scheme Integrity, Louise Sanders, helped align sector needs with the requirements of UKAS accreditation. Christine Sharif, Policy and Standards Manager at TST, noted,
“There was a lot of the proverbial ‘blood sweat and tears’. It took real perseverance to get this right, but it was worth it.”
The pilot involved 13 organisations and ensuring fairness and proportionality in inspections was vital, with TST adapting the process to work equitably across small and large organisations.
Recruiting the right inspectors was another milestone. TST sought professionals from outside the immediate sector to bring fresh perspectives and skills, including expertise in governance, finance, charity assessment and ISO frameworks.
As the pilot progressed, several procedural changes were introduced to strengthen efficiency and effectiveness. These included introducing benchmarks for partial versus full conformance and defining minimum acceptable standards in areas with legal requirements such as safeguarding and data protection.
Louise Sanders, Head of Development and Scheme Integrity at UKAS, said:
“This has been a particularly rewarding project, shaped by genuine collaboration and a shared commitment to getting it right. TST developed their inspection model with care, insight, and a determination to ensure quality is accessible and achievable across the sector. It was a privilege to work alongside them.”
The impact of accreditation
Accreditation has brought a step change in the way survivor support services are assessed and improved. For commissioners, funders and stakeholders, it provides a trusted benchmark, a sign that inspected services are operating to high-quality, trauma-informed and evidence-based standards.
For survivors, it offers confidence that the support they receive meets consistent quality thresholds, regardless of geography or organisational size. For TST, it affirms their role not only as a collective voice for survivors but as a driver of continuous improvement in the sector.
Importantly, TST inspections are open to member and non-member organisations, reinforcing the impartiality and independence of the inspection process.
Richard Collin, External Affairs Director at UKAS, commented,
“This is a landmark moment in the use of accreditation to safeguard vulnerable individuals. TST has created a model that provides clear assurance without losing sight of the human aspect of care. This sets the tone for how quality frameworks can be embedded into the voluntary sector in a way that strengthens services and builds trust.”
Sector significance
This is the first time in the UK that an organisation has been accredited to inspect services supporting survivors of sexual violence and childhood abuse. It sets a precedent for quality assurance, providing confidence that standards are being consistently met in a sector where the quality of care has tangible impacts on peoples lives.
As Christine Sharif explained,
“These standards belong to the sector and the survivors who use these vital services. Survivors have the right to access specialist support that is consistent, safe, transparent and driven by their needs. And accreditation means we’re not just saying we’re doing it well, we’re proving it.”
While other schemes and recognition frameworks exist, TST’s approach is unique in its breadth, its focus on trauma-informed care and its balance of rigour with accessibility. With consistent processes, proportionate benchmarks and qualified inspectors, the scheme has been designed to support rather than burden services. UKAS accreditation now provides even greater confidence to service users that the care they receive is aligned with industry best practice and is carried out competently and impartially.
Reflections and next steps
Far from being a finished product, TST views their standards and inspection scheme as a living framework. Ongoing feedback from inspected organisations is already informing revisions, and a sector-wide consultation is planned to ensure the standards remain relevant and reflective of the evolving support landscape, including emerging areas such as psychoeducational services and child sexual exploitation prevention. TST is also exploring technology upgrades to streamline processes and reduce administrative burdens.
TST will look to grow the number of organisations adopting their standards, for the benefit of service users across the country, and continue to raise awareness of the need for robust, reliable and consistent support services.
Christine Sharif added,
“The standards are not static. They evolve with the sector and UKAS accreditation provides assurance that services are being delivered consistently and credibly in line with them. What matters most is that we continue raising the bar so survivors receive the best possible care.”
A foundation for further progress
TST’s UKAS accreditation represents a milestone for the specialist survivor support sector. It demonstrates that support services can be delivered consistently and with integrity, in line with industry best-practice standards, tailored specifically to trauma-informed care.
As more organisations engage with the standards, TST hopes to see a sector where organisations can demonstrate their full potential, where survivors know that their support is not only compassionate, but robust, well-governed and subject to continual improvement.