The person you’re supporting may experience symptoms of trauma, including anxiety, complicated grief, or post-traumatic stress. Compassionate, trauma-informed support can help people feel safer, more understood, and more in control during an overwhelming time.
You may be supporting the person along with other partners or services, from police to health services and specialist support organisations. Collaboration ensures individuals receive timely and consistent support in their journey to move forward. The Support Hub for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism brings partners and services together to provide coordinated, compassionate support in one place.
We welcome referrals from a wide range of professionals. For example, you may work in education, health or social care, or emergency services. If you support someone affected by terrorism, you can make a referral on their behalf.
Referring the person you support
The Support Hub provides specialist support for adults, children and young people.
If you’re supporting a victim, survivor, witness, bereaved relative or friend, or anyone else who has been affected, you can refer them through our online referral form.
Who you might support
The Support Hub can help you to work alongside specialist services to give individuals consistent information, care and support throughout police investigations or court proceedings.
The Support Hub works in collaboration with Victim Support’s National Homicide Service in England and Wales, as well as partners in equivalent services in Scotland and Northern Ireland, to support people affected by a terrorist incident. The Support Hub also works in collaboration with the Witness Service.
Witnesses to terrorism, bystanders and those in the wider community may experience difficult emotions after a terrorist incident, even if they were not physically harmed or directly involved.
They may believe their emotions are not valid and may be reluctant to seek help.
You can refer anyone who has been affected by a terrorist attack to the Support Hub if you believe they need additional support so their needs can be assessed.
The Childline website has resources to help you talk to children about their worries about the world, including information about terrorism and violence.
If you’re an education professional:
The Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PHSE) Association has resources for teachers to help with discussion and further learning about terrorist incidents.
These are available for primary schools and secondary schools, so you can provide age-appropriate information and reassurance to help young people regain a sense of safety and stability.
There’s further information about support for education professionals on the GOV.UK website at the following link:
GOV.UK: advice and support for parents, children and teachers affected by terrorism.