We are ethical, open and honest. We are research-driven and base our actions on evidence. We follow through on our words and act with professionalism, show respect and consideration to all and do what is right.
Advice for parents, carers, professionals, and survivors, providing guidance on understanding key issues, responding to challenges, keeping children safe, maintaining wellbeing and where to find additional support.
We offer comprehensive support through specialised training, assessments, interventions, and case consultancy. We provide bespoke assessments, specialist interventions and consultancy in relation to child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviour.
Through research, we develop effective strategies, inform public policy and provide the best support and interventions for individuals and families.
Through our advocacy work, we press for the system changes that are needed to enable a greater focus to be placed on the prevention of child sexual abuse.
As a charity, we rely on the kindness and generosity of people like you to support our vital work to prevent child sexual abuse.
By donating, fundraising, or simply spreading the word about our work, your support will have a huge impact.
“We hope this report will bring this subject out of the shadows and contribute to protecting children from harm home at a time when it is needed more than ever.”
The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (CSA Centre) has published a new paper on sibling sexual abuse, co-authored by Stuart Allardyce, director of Stop It Now! Scotland, and Dr Peter Yates, lecturer and programme lead in social work at Edinburgh Napier University.
Sexual abuse involving child siblings is thought to be the most common form of child sexual abuse within families, perhaps up to three times as common as sexual abuse of a child by a parent.
The paper aims to help professionals think through the issues and challenges raised by sibling sexual abuse and covers:
Because of the scale of the problem, all professionals working in health and social care need to be prepared to work with people affected by sibling sexual abuse, including both children and adult survivors. This involves understanding the nature and consequences of the abuse, to be able to help survivors and families move on from harm and distress.
Stuart Allardyce, co-author of the report and director of Stop It Now! Scotland, says: “A sibling acting in a sexually abusive way towards another sibling is the most common kind of sexual abuse that occurs within families. But it is often a hidden crime, rarely reported at the time and often coming to light years after the event.”
The CSA Centre’s paper is primarily written for social workers and other professionals involved in the safeguarding of children, but it may be of interest to anyone who finds themselves working with families affected by sibling sexual abuse – for example, teachers, mental health practitioners, foster carers and residential care workers. As sibling sexual abuse is rarely disclosed in childhood, this paper may be of use also to professionals working with adult survivors of sexual abuse.
The report discusses how childcare professionals can better identify sexually abusive interactions between siblings, and respond appropriately. “This response needs to recognise that all involved are children and need to be treated differently to adults in a similar situation, and it also needs to underline the seriousness of this issue,” says Stuart Allardyce.
“We need to get better at intervening in these kinds of cases so that abuse never reoccurs and all family members in these situations get the right support to move on. But we also discuss in the report what we need to do to ensure that this kind of harm is prevented from occurring in the first place. Although written for those involved with child safeguarding, we hope this report will bring this subject out of the shadows and contribute to protecting children from harm home at a time when it is needed more than ever.”
You can find the full paper on the CSA Centre website.
Visit the sexual abuse learning programme on our Parents Protect website to find out more about how to keep children safe.
Our confidential child sexual abuse prevention helpline (0808 1000 900) is available for anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse. Callers do not need to give identifying information, so can remain anonymous. We speak to thousands of people every year, and help them act to protect children and young people from sexual abuse and exploitation. You can also get support from our experienced advisors through our live chat and secure messaging service.
Our Stop It Now helpline, self help and programmes are there to help anyone concerned about child sexual abuse. Shore is for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour.
Our helpline 0808 1000 900
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Lucy Faithfull Foundation is a Registered Charity No. 1013025, and is a company limited by guarantee, Registered in England No. 2729957.
We are ethical, open and honest. We are research-driven and base our actions on evidence. We follow through on our words and act with professionalism, show respect and consideration to all and do what is right.
Advice for parents, carers, professionals, and survivors, providing guidance on understanding key issues, responding to challenges, keeping children safe, maintaining wellbeing and where to find additional support.
We offer comprehensive support through specialised training, assessments, interventions, and case consultancy. We provide bespoke assessments, specialist interventions and consultancy in relation to child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviour.
Through research, we develop effective strategies, inform public policy and provide the best support and interventions for individuals and families.
Through our advocacy work, we press for the system changes that are needed to enable a greater focus to be placed on the prevention of child sexual abuse.
As a charity, we rely on the kindness and generosity of people like you to support our vital work to prevent child sexual abuse.
By donating, fundraising, or simply spreading the word about our work, your support will have a huge impact.
As you may have noticed, our website looks a little different now. We’ve restructured and redesigned the site to be more accessible to you, so we’d love to know what you think. All feedback will remain anonymous; we do not collect any personal identifying information.
As you may have noticed, our website looks a little different now. We’ve restructured and redesigned the site to be more accessible to you, so we’d love to know what you think. All feedback will remain anonymous; we do not collect any personal identifying information.