Sarah* was a teenager when she made one of the bravest decisions of her life. With the support of a trusted teacher, she walked into a police station and disclosed that she had been sexually abused by her mother’s partner; abuse that had begun when she was very young and continued for years. In that moment, she set in motion a process that no one should have to navigate alone.
This disclosure triggered a sequence of events that could have overwhelmed anyone, let alone a child. Police interviews. Medical examinations. The reality that she could no longer safely return to her family home.
CRCC’s crisis team responded to a callout from the Sexual Assault Child Abuse Team (SACAT) to support Sarah* through her police interview – a process that took many hours across multiple appointments.
But our support didn’t end there.
We coordinated a comprehensive response across Sarah’s immediate and longer-term needs. We liaised with the Forensic and Medical Sexual Assault Care (FAMSAC) team to arrange urgent medical support, and we worked with services to secure emergency accommodation when Sarah* couldn’t safely return home. We participated in multi-agency case conferences to ensure every professional involved – including staff at school – knew how to respond with trauma-informed care.
Throughout Sarah’s journey, CRCC was a consistent presence, over the phone and in person. When court proceedings began, we were there, walking alongside Sarah* as she faced the legal process. A referral to CRCC’s counselling team ensured Sarah* had access to longer-term therapeutic support.
“Having someone there with me when I was dealing with the police and medical services made such a difference,” Sarah* later shared. “I wasn’t doing it alone.”
Sarah* remained engaged with CRCC and continues to receive specialist counselling. The coordinated response ensured she didn’t have to navigate a complex system on her own, a system that, without support, can itself be retraumatising.
For young people disclosing child sexual abuse, the hours and days following that disclosure are pivotal. CRCC’s 24/7 crisis response – attending police interviews, coordinating across agencies, providing sustained advocacy – transforms what could be an overwhelming experience into one where a young person feels supported and in control of decisions about their own life.
This early intervention reduces long-term harm and lays the foundation for recovery.
“She walked in alone. She didn’t leave that way.” CRCC Crisis Advocate
Consent note: Name and identifying details changed. Shared with client consent.