Editorial Policy

1. Our purpose

Survive Child Abuse is an independent, peer-led group of adult survivors of childhood abuse, based in the United Kingdom. survivechildabuse.com exists to share insights, reflections, practical suggestions and explanatory content from our members for the benefit of other adult survivors, their partners, and others who support survivors’ journeys towards recovery.

2. What we publish

We publish five types of content.

All these formats are written by adult survivors. They focus on what has helped, not on accounts of abuse.

3. What we do not publish

To protect contributors, third parties and our readers, we do not publish:

• survivor stories or first-person accounts of specific abuse;
• the names of, or identifying information about, any individual or institution;
• diagnostic, medical, psychiatric, pharmacological or legal advice — Articles and Abuse Guides are explanatory and supportive, not a substitute for professional assessment;
• recommendations or criticisms of named therapists, clinics, products, supplements or apps;
• descriptions of pain-based or potentially harmful coping strategies, or anything that could be read as encouraging or assisting self-harm;
• factual claims about third parties without supporting evidence.

4. Anonymity

All content is published anonymously or under a pseudonym. We do not maintain a sustained pseudonym across multiple pieces by the same author, unless the author is an approved member of our Author Team. The author’s real identity is held in a separate, access-controlled record solely so that we can manage consent and respond to a withdrawal request.

Where content is illustrated with photographs or audio, all metadata is stripped before publication.

Profile images displayed alongside contributor and team member names are representative images, not photographs of the actual individuals. Images are sourced from licensed stock libraries and modified before use to ensure they bear no likeness to any real person.

5. How we write and edit

All our content is written by adult survivors for adult survivors, their partners, and the people who support them. Each piece passes through at least two members of our editorial team before it goes live.

Each piece is either:

• originated by a team member acting in an Editor/Author capacity, and reviewed by a second Editor and approved by a third; or
• written by an independent Author and reviewed by one Editor and approved by a second Editor.

In all cases, the reviewing editor is not the approving editor of the piece. This separation applies whether the content is submitted by an independent Author or originated by a team member. It ensures that no editor who has contributed to shaping a piece — whether as author, co-author, or reviewer — is also the person who approves it for publication.

Editors apply a written pre-publication checklist that covers identification risk, advice content, named third parties, content warnings, sourcing (where relevant), consent and signposting.

Every published piece carries a “last reviewed” date. Articles and Abuse Guides are re-checked at least every twelve months because their information value depends on being current. Sparks, Hints & Tips and “What I’ve Learnt” pieces are re-checked at least annually for continued relevance.

6. Articles and Abuse Guides — sources and accessibility

Articles and Abuse Guides take published information into account where relevant, but they are written by survivors for survivors and are designed to be accessible and understandable. They are explicitly not clinical, academic or diagnostic resources.

When we draw on external information, we cite it openly so readers can follow up. We use only reputable sources — for example NHS, NSPCC, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), and peer-reviewed literature. Where we paraphrase or quote, we do so within fair-dealing limits and credit the source.

Abuse Guides describe the primary types of abuse in childhood from a first-hand survivor perspective. They are designed to help readers understand and reflect — not to confirm or rule out whether they, or someone they know, was abused. If you want a clinical assessment, please see a qualified professional. The partner-focused Guide is supportive and informational; it is not relationship advice, and any safety-planning is signposted to specialist services such as Refuge, Women’s Aid and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline.

7. Content warnings and signposting

Many people read survivechildabuse.com when they are already feeling vulnerable. We add content warnings at the top of pieces that may bring up difficult feelings, and we include a short “if you need support now” block at the foot of every published piece, with crisis contact numbers. The Samaritans (116 123) and 999 in an emergency are always among the contacts listed.

8. Concerns, takedowns and right of reply

If you are concerned about anything on survivechildabuse.com — for example, if you believe a piece identifies you, is inaccurate, or has otherwise caused you harm — please contact us at .

9. Corrections

If we publish something we later realise is materially inaccurate, we correct it openly. Substantive corrections are noted at the foot of the piece with the date of correction. Minor edits — typos, broken links — are made silently.

10. Independence and conflicts of interest

We are funded by donations and the time of our members. We do not accept payment for placing content. If a member has a personal or financial interest in a topic they are writing about, that is declared in the piece.

11. Updates to this policy

This Editorial Policy is reviewed at least annually. The current version is shown at the top of this page.

12. Contact

Questions about how we edit and publish content should be sent to .