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About our project

The Bluestar Project was designed to improve access to pre-trial services for survivors of trauma when a report has been made to the police

Access to pre-trial therapy and support services is absolutely critical for survivors of trauma as they go through the criminal justice process. Many myths about pre-trial therapy exist and everyday a survivor somewhere in the UK is told they can’t access essential care services while their case is under investigation. This simply isn’t true.

 

Our mission is to ensure that every survivor has an offer of support pre-trial – ensuring recovery and agency within the criminal justice process.

 

Our Community Interest Company is led by two Bluestar Directors, in partnership with the Green House. We are supported by our national Lived Experience lead, experienced trainers, practice advisors, and national programme officer. The Bluestar Project has been developed in close collaboration with the Police and CPS – our National Advisory Group and lived experience experts have developed with us the programme, our resources and best practice standards.

Bluestar Insta (1)

Pre-trial therapy

In 2022, the Bluestar Project was funded by the Home Office Childhood Sexual Abuse Support Services Transformation Fund to develop research exploring the barriers to pre-trial therapy and develop some best practice guidance surrounding the new CPS guidelines. Pre-Trial Therapy is any kind of therapy or support service accessed when a report of a crime is made to the police, while that case is under investigation, awaiting charge or a court date.

Our research report “Keeping Secrets” found that there were multiple barrier’s to accessing pre-trial therapy for survivors of sexual assault – while the study focussed on childhood sexual abuse, we are aware that these challenges are faced by victims of all crime types. We have developed several free resources for frontline services to use which are designed to improve access to quality pre-trial services, alongside a Training, Accreditation and Consultation Service – in line with our National Standards.

 

 

Our Mission

  • We believe that every survivor should have access to pre-trial therapy and specialist support services regardless of criminal justice outcomes.
  • We work collaboratively with survivors to develop consent-based pre-trial processes that promote agency and empowerment.
  • We are passionate about increasing access to quality pre-trial therapy/support services by developing shared knowledge of pre-trial services in line with the CPS Guidelines
  • We believe that working together with survivors, the CPS, Police and Criminal Justice System we can create safe therapeutic/support spaces that can help survivors to process trauma and engage with the CJS process.
  • We combine our national data, research, and expertise to help services improve access to pre-trial services and to continue to influence policy makers everywhere.