The Home Office has announced up to £1 million in funding for a new independent advisory panel intended to give adult survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation a direct voice in shaping government policy.
The Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Victim and Survivor Advisory Panel will be operated by the Office of the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales. It is expected to begin work in spring 2027, following a public recruitment process.
How the panel will work
According to the Government, the panel will bring together adults with lived experience of child sexual abuse and exploitation to offer advice, identify shortcomings in services and make recommendations on policy. A core group of members will be supported by wider opportunities for other survivors to contribute.
The Home Office says the funding, covering 2026 to 2029, will support staffing, training, specialist assistance and payment for members’ time and expertise. Panel members will be appointed for two years, from spring 2027 to spring 2029.
Who can apply?
Applications will be open to adults aged 18 or over who experienced child sexual abuse or exploitation and live in England or Wales. Applicants will not be required to describe their abuse when initially expressing interest, and members will not have to disclose their experiences publicly.
The Victims’ Commissioner’s Office will publish full eligibility criteria and recruitment details when applications open.
Commissioner calls for meaningful influence
Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman said survivors should be listened to rather than spoken for, and stressed that meaningful reform would require decision-makers to act on their contributions.
Safeguarding minister Satvir Kaur said the Government wanted survivors’ experiences to be central to decisions about preventing abuse and improving support. The NSPCC, Rape Crisis England and Wales and the National Association for People Abused in Childhood welcomed the initiative.
Separate from grooming gangs inquiry
The Home Office factsheet explicitly states that the new advisory panel is separate from both the statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs and the temporary survivor group involved in establishing that inquiry. Its purpose is to advise on policy, not to investigate individual allegations or determine criminal responsibility.
Questions over delivery
The announcement establishes a formal route for survivor input, but the panel has not yet begun operating. Its impact will depend on how ministers respond to recommendations and whether survivors can see evidence that their contributions have influenced policy and services.
The Government has committed up to £1 million over three years; this is not a statement that the full sum has already been spent. A decision on whether to establish a further panel after spring 2029 will be made separately.
Sources
This article is based on official Home Office publications and the Victims’ Commissioner’s announcement.
Sources: Home Office, 2026-10-26; Home Office, 2026-10-26; Office of the Victims’ Commissioner, 2026-10-26.