About Us
Built by survivors, for survivors, navigating the family court system.
Who We Are
Survivors Corner CIC was established in October 2025 to support survivors of domestic abuse navigating the UK family court system.
We were created in response to a significant gap in support. While survivors may have access to legal services such as solicitors, barristers, or McKenzie friends, there is very little emotional and practical support designed specifically for survivors moving through the family court process — particularly support delivered by people who truly understand it through lived experience.
Built by Survivors for Survivors
Our service is built by survivors, for survivors. Lived experience sits at the heart of everything we do. We believe this makes our approach distinct: to our knowledge, we are the first organisation in the UK to provide a peer-led emotional and practical support network for survivors navigating the family courts, delivered by those who have experienced domestic abuse and the realities of court involvement themselves.
What We Mean by "Survivor"
We use the term survivor intentionally. For us, being a survivor does not mean someone has fully exited an abusive relationship or reached a place of safety. Many of the people we support are still living with abuse or managing ongoing post-separation abuse.
We recognise that the point of leaving often increases risk, particularly when family court proceedings require continued contact with an abuser. Survivors are frequently forced to remain in survival mode for extended periods, navigating systems that do not always recognise the realities of coercive control or ongoing harm.
How We Deliver Support
Our recruitment and delivery model reflects our values. Support roles are grounded in lived experience of domestic abuse and the family court system. Formal qualifications are not a prerequisite; lived experience is recognised as a form of expertise.
This is supported by appropriate training, safeguarding measures, and trauma-informed practice to ensure support is delivered safely and ethically.
Driving Change in the Family Justice System
Alongside direct peer support, we are committed to contributing to meaningful change within the family justice system. The current system is widely experienced as unfit for purpose for survivors of domestic abuse.
We aim to use collective lived experience and survivor voice to inform policy, challenge harmful practices, and advocate for a system that is safer, more trauma-informed, and more responsive to those it serves.
