Victims and Courts Bill

Baroness Benjamin Excerpts

2nd reading
Tuesday 16th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Benjamin (LD)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for bringing this important Bill to the House, as it gives me the opportunity to speak about the vital specialist support services that victims of abuse and exploitation so desperately need. The picture we see before us with regards to this is a bleak one, far worse than any nation should accept, but with this Bill we have a precious opportunity. We can turn despair into hope and ensure that victims and survivors are finally met with compassion and understanding and get the support they need when they need it.

The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, which is hosted by Barnardo’s—I declare an interest as vice-president—estimates that 55,000 children and adults are currently on waiting lists for support for child sexual abuse. Alongside this, 23 specialist services have closed in the last 18 months, with only 363 remaining. This leaves, theoretically, a case load of around 16,500 victims per service, which is simply unimaginable.

For so many victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, just seeking help is an act of bravery, yet most will discover that services that can truly understand or empathise with their trauma are few and far between. It is shameful that this has been allowed to happen. Much of the time, victims and supporters are left on a painfully long waiting list and their healing is put on hold. They wonder whether they can bear to reopen old wounds by the time help finally comes.

For domestic abuse, the picture is not much brighter. In 2025, a report by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner revealed that thousands of children are being left with nowhere to turn after experiencing abuse. More than a quarter of these vital services are having to turn children away because they simply do not have the resources to support them. Between 2023 and 2024, over a third of organisations were running an area of the domestic abuse service without any dedicated funding. This is not a system that is putting victims first and certainly not a system that is putting children first.

Some groups, such as women and children and minority individuals, need specialist trauma-informed support which is tailored to their unique needs. It is essential that they have someone there who understands them, believes in them and can help them when they need it most. The specialisms of these services are often a lifeline for victims, as they have the expertise and knowledge to meet their needs, but, unfortunately, many are struggling just to stay afloat.

Children who have experienced unimaginable harm need specialist support which recognises their unique experiences. Instead, they are met with services that cannot offer them the tailored help they require. Victims tell us at Barnardo’s time and time again how crucial it is to speak with counsellors who truly understand their trauma and relevant experiences of abuse and exploitation. Those counsellors need to be commended for their commitment and dedication to making a difference to vulnerable children’s lives, because such child-focused specialist knowledge can transform the direction of a child’s life.

However, research has shown that most mental health services available to child victims are very generalised, leaving them without the expert guidance they need to rebuild their lives. That is why this Bill must include a clear duty on local statutory agencies to commission high-quality specialist support services for victims and their families in line with local needs. These services must also ensure that those with specific requirements, such as women and children, receive support that is tailored for them. Only then will we be able to deliver the national guarantee of support that the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse so rightly called for.

No survivor should face a postcode lottery of support. They should not be left holding their pain alone while they wait for help that may never come. When they finally find the courage to speak their truth, we should respond with compassion, understanding and unwavering support. Let us ensure that survivors are never again left to carry their trauma in solitude, but are instead supported to step forward with hope and dignity. As I always say, childhood lasts a lifetime, so let us do everything in our power to eliminate pain and trauma from the lives of all children, which so often can be passed down to their children.

This Bill has the power to help achieve this goal, and we at Barnardo’s are happy to work with the Government to ensure that the support and provision we are calling for become a reality, for the sake of the nation’s children’s happiness and well-being. I look forward to the Minister’s response.