“This group is so safe that it's the one place in the world I can truly just say whatever is on my mind without worrying and trying to hide things. I can be the full me, which is incredibly rare.”
This feedback from someone who regularly joins one of our support groups sums up why Sue Lambert Trust does what it does.
We are here to provide survivors of sexual abuse, sexual violence and sexual assault with a sense of safety, to help them take their first steps towards healing, and rebuild their lives after trauma.
With the support of our kind donors, together we make these invaluable, transformative services accessible to hundreds of survivors who live in Norfolk every year, for which we can’t thank you enough.
Sadly, our work is never done.
Demand for our specialist services continued to grow in 2025, proving that more people than ever need our life-changing therapy and support.
Before we get too far into 2026, we’re taking time out to reflect on how many people we were able to reach in 2025, and why we must continue to build on this so that everyone in Norfolk who needs us, can get our support, as soon as they need it.
In 2025, we supported 573 people with the kindness and care they desperately deserved, with 91% of our clients strongly agreeing or agreeing that they felt more aware of how to stay safe and utilise strategies to maintain this following our support.
In August, we launched our new online referral form, removing barriers for those who may struggle to pick up the phone to ask for help. Within the first four weeks, 115 people had completed the online self-referral – that’s almost 29 per week – a clear sign of the need for our services in Norfolk.
The statistics paint a stark picture:
- 1 in 12 people in Norfolk have experienced sexual abuse and sexual violence at some point in their lives.
- Over the last six years, Norfolk has consistently recorded more than 2,000 sexual offences per year.
- 150 survivors are currently on our waiting list to receive the specialist counselling and support they need to heal.
- 8 months is how long someone must wait before we can begin their one-to-one counselling – our aim is to offer a space within eight weeks of first making contact.
Due to rising costs, and long-term funding instability, last year we had no choice but to place people on a longer waiting list before they could be assessed for support.
That’s the last step we ever want to make.
When someone bravely speaks out, has reached breaking point, and they desperately need us, we must be able to offer counselling and support within weeks, not months.
We never want to turn people away; we exist to be a safe, kind and supportive place, where survivors can be heard without judgement and offered specialist support – and, whatever the challenges, we resolve to maintain and strengthen this mission in 2026.
With your support, and with robust long-term financial commitments from funders, we can work together to reduce the waiting time and ensure more survivors living in Norfolk can access the specialist counselling and help they need, far more quickly.
That is our wish for 2026.
What can you do to help?
Whether you’re an individual fundraiser or a big-hearted business, there are so many ways you can support Sue Lambert Trust in 2026.
From one-off or regular donations to participating in fundraising events, from displaying our collection tins to in-kind gifting, or even volunteering, every act of kindness makes a real difference.
Please look here for inspiration on how you can get involved this year.
Last year was tough, but we look towards 2026 with added resolve and hope.
Let’s end this reflection as we started, with feedback from a client highlighting why we do what we do, and why survivors of sexual violence need us:
“I know I’m getting stronger; others around me can see the differences. I know there’s still a lot of work to do, but thanks to Sue Lambert Trust’s facilitators and my peers, I’m getting there one step at a time.”
To understand more about the impact of what we do, please go to our Client Voices page.
And if you are reading this as a survivor of sexual assault, sexual abuse or sexual violence living in Norfolk, please be assured, we are here for you.
Our compassionate team are on the other end of the phone to listen. You will be heard, and you will be believed. Call us on 01603 622406, or you can find our self-referral online form on our homepage.