Victim Support
Victim Support is an independent UK charity founded in 1974 that provides free, confidential support to over one million people annually affected by crime in England and Wales, delivered through a 24/7 Supportline, live chat, local offices, specialist services, and digital platforms, funded by government contracts, donations, and corporate partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Victim Support does
Victim Support is an independent charity founded in 1974 and headquartered in Cardiff with operations in London, providing free and confidential support to people affected by crime and traumatic events across England and Wales. The organization is the oldest victims' charity in the world with more than 50 years of experience, reaching over one million people affected by crime annually through a multi-channel delivery model comprising a 24/7 telephone Supportline (08 08 16 89 111), live chat, online request forms, local area teams across counties, and an automatic police referral pathway when crimes are reported. Its core technology platform includes My Support Space (an interactive self-service digital resource), the Circles mobile safety planning app for young people in relationship abuse situations, and the WeMatter video-based group programme for children and young people aged 8-17 affected by domestic abuse.
The portfolio extends to specialist services for distinct victim populations: the National Homicide Service, Sexual Violence Services (including ISVA provision), Rochdale Specialist Domestic Abuse Service, the Support Hub for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism (launched in partnership with Peace Collective and London West NHS Trust), and NMC Independent Support for witnesses in Nursing and Midwifery Council investigations. The organization also delivers the BRIDGE Training programme to external professionals and educational institutions, creating a secondary B2B revenue and influence channel.
Victim Support operates as a company limited by guarantee (company number 2158780) and registered charity (charity number 298028) with no parent company. Revenue is generated through government contracts and grants, individual donations, corporate sponsorship (notably a three-year deal with Slater and Gordon signed in 2022), fundraising events, and legacy gifts. All services are provided free of charge to end users. The organization is led by Chief Executive Katie Kempen (joined June 2023), governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Yvonne Thomas, and holds royal patronage through HRH The Princess Royal as President.
Victim Support firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Victim Support
- Legal name
- Victim Support
- Website
- https://victimsupport.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Victim Support is an independent UK charity founded in 1974 that provides free, confidential support to over one million people annually affected by crime in England and Wales, delivered through a 24/7 Supportline, live chat, local offices, specialist services, and digital platforms, funded by government contracts, donations, and corporate partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Victim Support industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Victim Support Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System) (BPAIAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM), Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services (BPAGAEAN)
Keywords
Where Victim Support is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Victim Support business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations: Individual donations from public supporters. The organization actively campaigns for donations and offers one-off and monthly donation options.
- Government Funding: Government grants and contracts to provide victim support services. The organization has expressed concerns about funding cuts impacting service delivery.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Partnerships with corporations such as the 3-year sponsorship deal with Slater and Gordon.
- Fundraising: Organized fundraising events and campaigns. The organization runs events and encourages supporters to fundraise.
- Legacies and Wills: The organization encourages supporters to leave gifts in their wills.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Support Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Victim Support product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Victim Support delivers free, confidential, independent support services to people affected by crime and traumatic events across England and Wales. Core offerings include the 24/7 Supportline telephone helpline, 24/7 Live Chat, local area teams providing face-to-face support, the My Support Space digital self-service platform, and specialist programmes for sexual violence, domestic abuse, homicide, and terrorism. All services are provided at no cost to victims, regardless of whether the crime has been reported to the police.
Product overview
Victim Support offers a portfolio of integrated services for victims of crime in England and Wales, combining human-delivered support (trained supporters, specialist caseworkers, ISVAs, IDVAs) with digital resources. Core services include the 24/7 Supportline and Live Chat, while My Support Space provides self-service interactive guides. Specialist services address specific crime types including terrorism (Support Hub), homicide (National Homicide Service), sexual violence, and domestic abuse. Digital programmes include WeMatter (video-based group therapy for young people affected by domestic abuse) and the Circles safety planning app. The BRIDGE Training programme extends Victim Support's expertise to organisations. The Rochdale Specialist Domestic Abuse Service provides local provision in that borough.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- My Support Space: A free online resource containing interactive guides and information to help people manage the impact crime has had on them.
- NMC Independent Support
- Rochdale Specialist Domestic Abuse Service
- WeMatter
- Support Hub for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism
Products and services
- Supportline
Quantifiable outcome
- For every £1 invested in support services, there is an economic return of up to £10.80
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Victim Support
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Victim Support technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Victim Support partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Peace CollectivecorePartner in the Support Hub for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism, providing coordinated support for anyone affected by terrorism in the UK or UK nationals affected by terrorism abroad.
- London West NHS TrustcorePartner in the Support Hub for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism alongside Victim Support and Peace Collective.
- Slater and GordonflagshipConsumer legal services firm Slater and Gordon signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Victim Support to support the organization's work with victims of crime.
- RockpoolcoreProvider of the CYP Domestic Abuse Recovery Toolkit used in the WeMatter video-based digital service for children and young people affected by domestic abuse.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Victim Support competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Mind: Largest mental health charity in England and Wales; overlaps with Victim Support in mental health and crisis support services and competes for individual donor and corporate fundraising.
- Citizens Advice: National advice network that overlaps with Victim Support on practical guidance, rights information, and navigating public systems; a broad social-services incumbent with comparable scale.
- Samaritans: UK-wide crisis support charity offering a 24/7 emotional support helpline; a comparable peer in terms of volunteer-driven crisis-line delivery and free-to-user model.
Direct peers
- Victim Support Scotland: The Scotland-based sister charity delivering the same independent victim support services under a separate organizational structure; operates the equivalent Supportline, court support, and specialist services for Scottish victims.
- Refuge: Large UK charity providing specialist domestic abuse support including refuges and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline; competes directly with Victim Support's domestic abuse services for contracts and donor share.
- Women's Aid: Federation of domestic abuse service providers in England; a primary mission-pure competitor to Victim Support in the domestic abuse and IDVA service space.
- Childline (NSPCC): Free, confidential 24/7 helpline and online service for children and young people; directly comparable to Victim Support's WeMatter and Circles offerings for under-18 victims.
Emerging players
- NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood): Specialist charity supporting adult survivors of childhood abuse; competes in the niche that Victim Support's sexual violence and childhood abuse services also address.
- Cruse Bereavement Support: UK charity offering bereavement support including support after homicide; overlaps with Victim Support's National Homicide Service for families affected by violent crime.
- Rape Crisis England & Wales: Federation of specialist rape and sexual violence support centres that directly competes with Victim Support's ISVA and sexual violence services for donor funding and commissioned contracts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Victim Support social profiles
Digital presenceVictim Support financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Victim Support leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Victim Support funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Victim Support M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Victim Support
What does Victim Support do?
Victim Support delivers free, confidential, independent support services to people affected by crime and traumatic events across England and Wales. Core offerings include the 24/7 Supportline telephone helpline, 24/7 Live Chat, local area teams providing face-to-face support, the My Support Space digital self-service platform, and specialist programmes for sexual violence, domestic abuse, homicide, and terrorism. All services are provided at no cost to victims, regardless of whether the crime has been reported to the police.
Is Victim Support a public or private company?
Victim Support is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Victim Support founded?
Victim Support was founded in 1974. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Victim Support based?
Victim Support is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Victim Support make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are government Funding, corporate Sponsorship, fundraising and legacies and Wills.
Who are Victim Support's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Mind, Citizens Advice and Samaritans. Direct peers are Victim Support Scotland, Refuge, Women's Aid and Childline (NSPCC). Emerging players are NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood), Cruse Bereavement Support and Rape Crisis England & Wales.
Does Victim Support have an API?
No public API is recorded for Victim Support.
What industry is Victim Support in?
Victim Support's product category is Victim Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAFAJ, Victim Services & Witness Assistance (Justice System), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAM, Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.