Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger Meets with Stepping Stones North Wales and The Survivors Trust

18th November 2025

Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger visited the King Street office of Stepping Stones North Wales last week to meet with staff, counsellors and volunteers from the charity, along with the CEO of The Survivors Trust, the UK-wide umbrella organisation for specialist sexual violence support services.

The meeting focused on the significant funding challenges currently facing organisations that support adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse throughout Wales and the wider UK. Stepping Stones North Wales, which provides counselling and support services to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse across the six counties of North Wales, outlined how rising demand for specialist counselling and support is being met with decreasing financial stability, as charitable trusts and foundations increasingly withdraw from funding this critical, complex work.

During the discussion, the organisations emphasised the need for multi-year, sustainable funding from both the UK and Welsh Governments to ensure survivors are not left waiting for vital counselling services. Without long-term investment, specialist providers struggle to implement long term development strategies and to provide the job security needed to recruit the best staff and, in some cases, face the risk of reducing services or closing, leaving survivors without the support they urgently need.

Phil Eastment, CEO of Stepping Stones North Wales, said:

“We were pleased to welcome Andrew Ranger MP to our Wrexham office and to discuss the very real pressures facing specialist services like ours. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse rely on expert, trauma-informed support, yet the funding landscape that sustains these services is increasingly volatile. Multi-year, secure funding is essential if we are to meet demand, retain skilled staff, and ensure survivors are not left without the help they deserve. We are grateful to Andrew for listening to the challenges faced by our sector and for recognising the importance of long-term investment.”

Following the meeting, Andrew Ranger MP commented:

“I am grateful to Stepping Stones North Wales and The Survivors Trust for sharing with me the vital nature of the work they do alongside the issues they face with funding every day. I will be seeking clarity from UK Government about long term funding to provide the certainty that these organisations need to ensure that the increasing demand, particularly for counselling, can be met.”

The Survivors Trust CEO Fay Maxted said:

“The impact of sexual abuse can last a lifetime and affect every aspect of someone’s health and wellbeing. Services like Stepping Stones North Wales offer truly life-changing and often life-saving counselling and support to counteract the trauma experienced and allow survivors to live lives free from fear and distress. The team at Stepping Stones North Wales provide an amazing service for survivors and knowing that funding is uncertain adds to the pressures and challenges of their work. It’s crucial that secure, long-term funding is in place to ensure survivors can access the support and help they need and deserve.

Stepping Stones North Wales and The Survivors Trust will continue working with partners and decision-makers to secure a more stable future for survivor support services across the region and beyond.