We recognise that survivors are not all the same and not every individual who has experienced childhood
sexual abuse will resonate with this word. For continuity in this document, we will use the word ‘survivor’
but we want to acknowledge that this is not a label that defines a person.
Purpose and remit
The Independent Inquiry into Childhood Sexual Abuse spanned 7 years and spoke to over 6000 survivors.
The aim of survivor participation within the IICSA Changemakers is not to recreate or duplicate the inquiry,
the Truth Project, the VSCP, or the Survivor’s forum.
By working with the Changemakers and the Survivor Participation Manager, survivors will be able to
influence and participate in events, consultations and discussions concerning the Changemakers workplan
for 2024. Not all consultations will be appropriate for engagement with all Changemakers and survivors, but
notice will be given as soon as possible to forthcoming opportunities.
The scope, budget, and limitation of the Changemaker remit and resources means we cannot provide
opportunities for engagement with every individual IICSA recommendation but appreciate many areas will
interconnect and survivors will be able to share their experiences across themes as they deem appropriate.
Safeguarding
By agreeing to these TOR, survivors acknowledge that they are responsible for overseeing their own
personal risk, although the Survivor Participation Manager and Head of Programmes will provide
safeguarding advice and safety planning where required.
If survivors are already encompassed within a charity or organisational structure, they will defer to that
charity or organisations safeguarding policies, procedures, and escalation chain.
In the case of an emergency or risk to life, they will reach out to emergency services.
We appreciate the nature of cases involved in child sexual abuse may mean that survivors are currently
experiencing contact with live cases, perpetrators, or not be in the right position to enter conversations
about their experiences due to open legal matters. Where this is the case, it would not be appropriate or
recommended for survivors to join Survivor Advisory Community at this time, but we welcome you to
approach again in the future.
Consent and Confidentiality
Participation is entirely optional with consent being retractable at any time by the individual. By agreeing to
these ToR survivors take responsibility for complying with the UK GDPR.
Survivors will be bound by the same confidentiality rules that the Changemakers members are, regarding
sensitive or embargoed information.
Press and media
Survivors are not expected to engage with press or media unless a specific occasion emerges and they feel
safe and supported to do so. If survivors are engaging in any media or press activity more generally, we ask
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that they inform us in advance so that we can support you and be prepared if we are approached by the
press for additional comment.
Wellbeing
Healing is not a linear or binary feeling or process; we recognise that survivor wellbeing may be affected by
their participation work. The Survivor Participation Manager is available to all survivors for debriefing
sessions but is unable to provide structured clinical supervision or therapeutic support. If survivors require
this form of support, they will be signposted to specialists who will be able to support them confidentially.
Survivors will be informed, ahead of time, of when participation work will be ending.
Expenses
We will seek to provide accessible means of participation (including online). If survivors need to travel then
they will be able to claim travel expenses for any in person events, consultations or debriefs.
Code of conduct

• Agree to keep the information shared by other survivors confidential and private.
• Champion a strengths-based approach by allowing space for survivor joy, hope and resilience.
• Abide by trauma informed ways of working which prioritise safety, collaboration, empowerment,
  cultural humility, and trustworthiness.
• Employ mindful personal boundaries and be aware that participation work may involve difficult and
  upsetting topics, themes, and feelings.
• Recognise that other forms of abuse and violence do not happen adjacently to someone’s experience of
  childhood sexual abuse, but compound and intersect with it. Even if this is outside of our sphere of
  understanding and experience survivors will practice respectful, non-judgmental, intersectional
  discussion to help ‘call in’ and ‘call out’ systems, groups, and people.
• Acknowledge that microaggressions, overt and subtle discrimination, aggression, deliberate retraumatisation and/or hate will not be tolerated.
• Recognise that no one is exempt from the interplay of power, privilege, and systemic forms of
  discrimination so we seek to constantly, and non-defensively, reflect on the bias’s we may bring in order
  to truly create a safe and brave space.
  Contact Structure
  The Survivor Participation manager will reach out on a regular basis with updates on ongoing or upcoming
  participation opportunities. Survivors do not have to commit to a regular meeting pattern; participation is
  flexible and survivor-led.
  Complaints/Whistleblowing
  If any survivor has concerns about conduct or behaviour of other survivors or Changemaker members they
  can contact the Head of Programmes by email in the first instance who will begin a review of the situation
  and escalate accordingly. If this conduct poses an immediate risk the Head of Programmes may need to
  make emergency services aware and seek further advice.
  Updates
  Critical reflection and accountability is an important part of trauma informed working. Changemakers remain
  open to feedback and will review and/or refine this ToR and surrounding processes on a regular basis.

If you would like to join please contact [email protected] who can help to arrange this.