Support Groups and Advice

Age UK is the country's largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. We believe in a world where everyone can love later life and we work every day to achieve this.

We help millions of people to know their rights and make the best choices for later life. We put people in control of the care they receive, while sharing best practice to improve services. We tackle loneliness, get older people active, and support people to stay independent for longer

0800 678 1602

Age UK West Sussex and Brighton and Hove 01903 731 800

Age UK East Sussex 01424 426 162 / 01273 476 704

Barnardo’s work with children and young people, and their families, up to the age of 18 years old who are at risk of or abused through sexual exploitation.

Their direct work sessions are flexible and focused on the individual’s needs. They aim to help young people to explore their situation in a way that is most comfortable for them.

Professionals, parents/carers and young people can find out more on how to refer into the service, by following the link to the website.

B You Service also provide training packages for professionals in raising awareness in the area of Child Sexual Exploitation and how best to support children and young people

01293 610691

09:00 - 17:00 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

We work with people who want to change their lives for the better and achieve positive and life-affirming goals.

We believe that everyone has the right to lead the best life they can. Our accessible services empower people to improve their health and wellbeing and take control of the direction of their lives.

Our areas of expertise include:

• Substance misuse
• Children and young people’s services
• Family services
• Accommodation & homelessness
• Clinical services
• Criminal justice
• Domestic abuse specialist provision (East Sussex)

0300 323 9985

A West Sussex based charity supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse of all ages and genders, and their close supporters. Providing trauma-informed therapy face-to-face, online or over the phone, and play therapy for those under 10 years old. Plus, additional wrap-around support including trauma-informed yoga and psychoeducation support groups.

To make a counselling referral: 01243 786349

09:00 - 15:30 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Specialist therapeutic support for people over 18 years old who self-identify as male and who have had unwanted sexual experiences, including:

• Child sexual abuse
• Sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual body shaming
• and rape.

Mankind offers 1-2-1 counselling, group courses, and peer therapy groups.

01273 911680

The Mental Health Foundation have a variety of online resources to help you, including a range of free, downloadable leaflets.

Migrant Help assist victims of human trafficking and modern slavery in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The charity also provides advice and guidance to asylum seekers, it runs a free asylum helpline accessible to all asylum seekers in the UK. They can assist with applications for asylum support, reporting maintenance issues with asylum accommodation, requests for assistance, and advice on any asylum-related queries.

0808 8010 503

The National Stalking Helpline is run by Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

They can help you by giving you information and guidance on topics including:

• The law in relation to stalking and harassment in the United Kingdom
• Reporting stalking or harassment
• Effective gathering of evidence
• Ensuring your personal safety and that of your friends and family
• Practical steps to reduce the risk

Refuge, the national domestic violence charity, provides safe refuge accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence across East Sussex.

National 24hr Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247

The Revenge Porn Helpline supports adults (those over the age of 18) who are victims of image based abuse and who have had their intimate images and videos shared without their consent, or when someone is threatening to do this.

Non-judgemental and confidential advice: The helpline practitioners will listen to what has happened and help as best they can.

Reporting and removal of content: They can help with reporting and removing content online.

Social media advice: Advice on the social media platform’s community guidelines and polices and how to report and remove content to which they should respond promptly.

Reporting to the police: Advice on how and what evidence you need to gather.

Legal advice: They have an effective and positive working relationship with the QMUL Legal Advice Centre who offer free, client-centred legal consultations.

Safe in Sussex provides a range of support services to victims and survivors of domestic abuse in West Sussex this includes refuge and help in the community.

Contact: 0330 333 7416

09:30 - 14:30 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

It doesn’t matter who you are, how you feel, or what has happened. If you feel that things are getting to you, get in touch.

We know a lot about what can help you through tough times.

We can help you explore your options, understand your problems better, or just be there to listen.

StreetlightUK provides specialist support for women involved in prostitution, sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Every woman matters.

Placing a woman's dignity and choices at the centre of their service, they provide practical support to those wanting to exit prostitution. They are committed to helping them discover their intrinsic value and worth as individuals and sustain a new life free from sexual exploitation.

07886115953

09:00 - 17:00 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Churchill Court, 3 Manor Royal, RH10 9LU

We are the Rape Crisis Centre for Sussex.

We believe that no one should be alone when they have experienced sexual violence, abuse or harassment.

We are here for you, whether your experiences were a week ago or fifty years ago. We will support you, listen to you and believe you.

Office: 01273 203380

Helpline: 01273 720110

6a Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE

The Sussex Mental Healthline is a telephone service offering support and information to anyone experiencing mental health problems including stress, anxiety and depression. The service is also available to carers and healthcare professionals. You do not need an appointment.

• They are a service available to anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend.
• They provide support for people experiencing distress.

For Text Relay calls and New Generation Text calls from hearing and speech impaired callers please contact 0300 5000 101.

0800 0309 500

Switchboard is a charity for LGBTQ people looking for community, support or information. They connect people and support them directly through specially developed Switchboard services or link them to other specialist organisations.

The trans survivors helpline provides support and information to trans and/or non-binary people. Operated by trans and/or non-binary volunteers; you can talk to them confidentially about anything that’s on your mind. They talk to people about a range of things, specialising on those who have experienced crime, including sexual violence at any point in their life. Trans Survivors is available Sunday 3-5pm on 01273 359042

01273 359042

19:00 - 21:30 Wednesday, Thursday

Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard, 113 Queens Road, Brighton BN1 3XG