Victims and Survivors Service
The Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) has a service dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of survivors of Non-Recent Historical Institutional Abuse.
The VSS are working in partnership with the WAVE Trauma Centre and Advice NI to deliver a range of support and services regionally across Northern Ireland. They will also ensure that survivors who are now living outside of Northern Ireland have access to the support and services that they need.
Support Available
The Victims and Survivors Service offers support and assistance in the following areas:
- Health and wellbeing, including pain management, disability aids, complementary therapies and psychological supports.
- Welfare advice and assistance, as well as help engaging with other agencies.
- Social support, including social activities and befriending.
- Personal development, including education and training opportunities or life coaching.
- Records searches and information recovery relating to time in care as a child.
This service can be accessed from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, by phoning 028 9031 1678 or emailing hiaenquiries@vssni.org. Further information can be found at: www.victimsservice.org/historical-institutional-abuse-hia.
Support includes dedicated health and wellbeing caseworker support, counselling, complementary therapies, disability aids, persistent pain and a range of other social and welfare support.
The Commissioner’s Office will review, monitor and support the VSS in providing the best possible services to survivors of non-recent historical institutional childhood abuse.
Wave Trauma Centre
The services above may be delivered through the WAVE Trauma Centre. Victims and Survivors can contact WAVE directly to access their services.
You can contact WAVE at:
- Ballymoney: 028 2766 9900
- Armagh: 028 3751 1599
- Belfast: 028 9077 9922
- Derry/Londonderry: 028 7126 6655
- Omagh: 028 8225 2522