A survivor of historical child abuse has been awarded £750,000 in compensation after seeking the advice of Switalskis' nationally recognised child abuse compensation team.

Between 1968 and 1991, pupils at Berrow Wood School in Worcestershire were subjected to widespread physical and sexual abuse by staff members. The abuse has since led to the conviction of nine former teachers and workers.

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.