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Can children and young people get support after sexual assault?
Yes. In the UK, children and young people can access support after sexual assault through the police, the NHS, and specialist charities. They do not need to cope alone, and help is available whether the assault happened recently or some time ago.
Support can include medical care, emotional support, advice about reporting, and help to stay safe. The right service may depend on the young person’s age, what has happened, and whether they want to involve the police.
Support from the police
The police can help if a child or young person wants to report a sexual assault. They should treat the person with care and try to make the process as calm and supportive as possible.
Officers can arrange a forensic medical examination, collect evidence, and help protect the person from further harm. In many areas, specially trained officers or child protection teams are involved.
A report to the police is not the same as a court case. The police can also explain the next steps and work with other services to support the young person.
Support from the NHS
The NHS can provide urgent medical care after sexual assault, including treatment for injuries, emergency contraception, and tests for sexually transmitted infections. Some services also offer forensic examinations where evidence may still be collected.
Many areas have Sexual Assault Referral Centres, often called SARCs. These centres offer confidential support, medical care, and referrals, and young people may be able to attend without making a police report first.
Children and young people can also speak to a GP, A&E, NHS 111, or a sexual health clinic for advice and treatment. If they are in immediate danger or need urgent help, they should call 999.
Support from charities and specialist services
Charities can offer emotional support, counselling, advocacy, and practical advice. They may also help a young person understand their options and decide whether to speak to the police or NHS services.
Some charities work specifically with children and teenagers, while others support anyone affected by sexual violence. They may offer helplines, online chat, face-to-face support, or group sessions.
These services can be especially helpful for young people who want to talk to someone trained in trauma and abuse. Support is often available even if the assault was not reported to the police.
Getting the right help
If a child or young person has been sexually assaulted, the most important thing is their safety and wellbeing. They should be encouraged to tell a trusted adult, such as a parent, carer, teacher, doctor, or social worker.
If the assault has just happened, it may help to avoid washing, changing clothes, or cleaning up before speaking to a SARC or the police, if possible. However, if this has already happened, support is still available and it is still worth seeking help.
Every situation is different, and young people do not have to choose one service only. Police, the NHS, and charities can all play a role in helping them recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Children and young people sexual assault support from police NHS charities refers to coordinated help from police, NHS services, and charities for anyone under 18 affected by sexual assault. It can include medical care, forensic examination, emotional support, advocacy, counselling, safety planning, and help understanding reporting options. Support is usually offered in a child-centred, trauma-informed way.
Any child or young person affected by sexual assault can usually access support from police, NHS services, and specialist charities, regardless of whether they choose to report to police. Support may also be available to parents, carers, and family members who need guidance or emotional support.
Immediate help can be sought by calling emergency services if there is urgent danger or serious injury, attending A&E, contacting a local sexual assault referral service, or speaking to a trusted adult, school safeguarding lead, police, or a specialist charity. If the child feels unsafe, urgent safeguarding and medical support should be arranged right away.
Police can take a report, investigate the offence, arrange safeguarding, and help protect the child from further harm. They can also work with specialist officers trained to support children and explain the process in a sensitive, age-appropriate way. In many areas, police can refer children to specialist support services.
The NHS can provide medical assessment, treatment for injuries, emergency contraception, sexual health care, testing for infections, forensic examination where appropriate, and mental health support. NHS professionals can also help document concerns and make referrals to specialist safeguarding or counselling services.
Charities often provide emotional support, advocacy, counselling, helplines, outreach, and practical guidance for children, young people, and families. They may help the child understand choices, accompany them to appointments, and offer ongoing support without requiring a police report.
No, support is often available whether or not the child reports to police. A child can receive medical care, emotional support, and counselling without making a formal report. Some services may encourage reporting if the child wants to, but the child’s safety and wellbeing come first.
Support is usually confidential, but there are limits when a child is at risk of serious harm or when safeguarding duties require sharing information to protect them. Professionals should explain confidentiality clearly and age-appropriately. Children should be told what information may need to be shared and why.
A medical examination is carried out by trained clinicians and is focused on the child’s health, comfort, and choices. It may include checking for injuries, offering treatment, and, if the child agrees, collecting forensic evidence. The child can usually have a trusted adult or supporter present, and the process should be explained carefully beforehand.
Protection may include safeguarding assessments, safety planning, police action if needed, referrals to social care, and support to reduce contact with the alleged perpetrator. Professionals work together to minimise further harm, support the child’s immediate needs, and keep them informed in a sensitive way.
Emotional and mental health support can include crisis support, counselling, trauma-informed therapy, coping strategies, and referrals to specialist child and adolescent mental health services. Charities and NHS teams may also support sleep, anxiety, flashbacks, self-blame, and other effects of trauma.
Yes, parents and carers can usually access guidance, emotional support, and advice about how to support the child, what to expect from police or NHS services, and how to manage safeguarding concerns. Helping the family can also improve the child’s recovery and sense of safety.
Support can continue for as long as the child needs it, although the type and duration of help vary by service. Some support is immediate and short-term, while counselling, advocacy, or police investigations may continue for weeks or months. Children should be told how to recontact services if needed.
Families do not usually need to bring anything specific, but any relevant medication details, a list of concerns, and contact information may help. If available, bringing the child’s NHS details, a trusted comfort item, or any police reference number can be useful. Services will explain what, if anything, is needed.
That is okay. Support should be paced according to the child’s comfort and readiness. Professionals can focus on safety, health, and reassurance first, and the child does not have to tell the full story immediately. Choice and control are important parts of trauma-informed care.
They may share information appropriately, with safeguarding as the priority, so the child receives coordinated medical care, emotional support, and investigation support. Police handle reporting and protection, the NHS handles health needs, and charities provide advocacy and emotional help. The aim is to reduce repeated retelling and improve continuity of care.
If there is immediate risk, professionals may involve emergency services, children’s social care, or specialist safeguarding teams to protect the child. They will act to reduce danger and may need to share information without the child’s permission if necessary to keep them safe. The child should be informed as much as possible in an age-appropriate way.
Yes, in many cases the child can choose whether to report, and support can still be provided. Professionals will explain the options, potential benefits, and any safeguarding responsibilities. The child’s wishes should be respected wherever possible, while safety remains the priority.
Schools, GPs, social workers, youth workers, and other professionals can usually make referrals or signpost families to appropriate services. They should follow local safeguarding procedures and seek urgent help if the child is at immediate risk. Specialist charities or local NHS services can often advise on the correct route.
Families can find local support through NHS websites, police safeguarding teams, specialist sexual assault referral centres, local councils, schools, and national charities. If the child needs urgent help, emergency services or A&E should be used first. A trusted professional can also help locate the nearest appropriate service.
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