As the summer holidays come to an end, many parents have been busy with new uniforms, school shoes, and the excitement (and nerves!) of another school year. But there’s something else we need to keep in mind as our children return to school: their safety at play.

For many survivors of abuse, the healing process can only begin when you feel comfortable to talk and share your experiences with others. That's much easier said than done, but thankfully, there are lots of resources available to provide emotional and practical support. While taking the first step is never easy, the resources we've listed here will be available for you when you're ready. There's no rush, but always remember that help is available when you need it.

Everyone who experiences abuse deserves justice. That might mean criminal charges for the person responsible, an institution taking accountability for its failures, or making a historical abuse compensation claim. Some people think that if their abuse happened a long time ago, there isn't anything they can do. However, it's possible to claim compensation even for historical (or non-recent) abuse.

The immediate aftermath of any kind of abuse can be confusing and emotionally difficult. Even once abuse is over, it can take a long time to recover - whether from physical injuries or mental and emotional trauma. This is why it's possible to claim compensation for historical abuse - because the courts recognise that you deserve justice even if it takes a long time before you're ready to take that step.

Abuse against children remains a national problem in England and Wales, with more historical cases coming to light and staggering data about the prominence of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and abuse across the country. Estimates from the 2020 Crime Survey for England and Wales indicate that as many as 3.1 million adults may have experienced sexual abuse by the time they turn 16, while a total of 8.5 million adults may have experienced some type of child abuse (including domestic violence, emotional and physical abuse alongside sexual abuse) before they reach adulthood. A further 2021 report by the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse suggests that this could mean as many as one in six girls and one in 20 boys have been sexually exploited or abused before the age of 16.

The Church of England has admitted to a serious data breach that exposed the personal details of nearly 200 abuse survivors.

For every three cohabitation agreements our family solicitors have handled, they have advised on around fifty financial and property disputes between couples who are splitting up. The process and cost of a cohabitation agreement is much simpler and quicker than a dispute. This article explains what a cohabitation agreement is, and why you should consider one if you’re going to move in with your other half.

For many people, news of a healthcare review is unsettling. The announcement that County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) is reviewing its breast cancer services will understandably leave patients and families in the North East feeling anxious and unsure of what this means for them.