#BreakTheCycle

For a society free from sexual abuse & abusive relationships

Nexus has almost 40 years’ experience offering a specialised professional counselling service to people impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships. We provide support to anyone impacted by sexual abuse from age 8 and upwards. Anyone else impacted by abusive relationships/domestic abuse can access support via the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline on 0808 802 1414 or via dsahelpline.org.

We also provide training and educational workshops across Northern Ireland as part of our Early Intervention and Prevention Services on topics such as consent, relationship and sexuality education, internet safety and child sexual exploitation.

Every year in Northern Ireland there are thousands of sexual abuse and abusive relationship offences reported to police, and thousands more go unreported. The supports and services that Nexus provide are primarily focused on enabling positive change for those impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships.

From April 2019, Nexus has managed the 24 Hour Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline, which is funded by the Department of Health, Department of Justice and the Department for Communities. The purpose of the Helpline is to offer support, advice and referral for any person impacted by domestic and sexual abuse in Northern Ireland. The Helpline also offers support and advice to those concerned about victims, those with concerns as to whether abuse is occurring, and to professionals who may work with people impacted.

Find out more about us, including our Vision, Mission and Values and our 2023-26 Strategic Plan.

Adult Counselling Update

We are pleased to announce that on 4 March 2024 the Minister of Health confirmed a 12 month extension to our adult sexual abuse counselling service until 31 March 2025. Whilst we work with the Department on what this new service offering will look like, please continue to use our referral form here and our team will be in touch.

So we can be sure you are ready to process your trauma through specialised counselling or group work, we do ask that an initial self-referral form is completed so we can take you through our processes and assign or signpost you to the most appropriate support. The needs of our clients are always at the heart of what we do, and we need this information to find the best support for you. The link to complete a referral form can be found at the bottom of this page. If you need any support completing this form, you can contact our administration team who will be more than happy to help you.

Please note that given the nature of our work, everyone at Nexus is trained to communicate with empathy and compassion, however our admin team are not trained counsellors and are there to help you make a referral and assist with appointments. If you feel you need immediate support in addition to making a referral to join counselling or group support, we encourage you to contact the 24/7 Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline on 0808 802 1414, help@dsahelpline.org or via live chat at dsahelpline.org.

Children & Young People’s Counselling Update

We are pleased to inform that as of Thursday 1st February 2024 we have resumed our referrals from children aged 8+ as counsellor capacity has now increased and we are working hard to triage and prioritise referrals to the most appropriate supports available. Unfortunately referrals from children under this age are still unavailable until appropriate funding becomes available for this age group. Please note a waiting list will be in place as we work through the children who were already waiting.

Inclusivity Statement

Here at Nexus, we are committed to providing a safe and welcoming space for everyone who comes through our door. Your voice is at the centre of our work, and we strive to create an environment that reflects our values of empathy, inclusivity, integrity and positively challenging where our staff, volunteers, and clients are heard and treated with respect. To achieve this, Nexus is dedicated to promoting equity in our services and our workplaces, ensuring our offices and the supports we offer are accessible to all and respectful of everyone’s culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and age.