We’re pleased to share our 2025–26 Impact Report, which brings together a year of growth, learning, change and, most importantly, the stories and experiences behind our work.
Throughout the year, our team continued to provide specialist, trauma-informed support to people across Cumbria affected by rape, exploitation, domestic abuse and sexual abuse.
A year of impact
During 2025–26, we supported 1,009 people across Cumbria and received 524 new referrals, while continuing to support people whose journeys with Safety Net began in previous years. Our Tier 1 helpline recorded 7,571 activities, alongside 17,772 activities across the whole service, representing more than 8,700 hours of support.
But numbers only tell part of the story.
Behind every figure is a person, someone taking the first step towards feeling safer, rebuilding their confidence, understanding their experiences or finding hope for the future.
Our Impact Report shares some of these journeys through case studies, including the experiences of people accessing our adult therapy, housing, refugee and children and young people’s services.
Showing the difference our support makes
This year, we’ve included additional pages exploring our data and outcomes in more detail, helping us to understand the changes people experience during their time with Safety Net.
For adults accessing our services, 84% experienced a reduction in trauma symptoms, while 76% reported improved personal safety and 79% experienced improved emotional wellbeing.
Our work with children and young people also continued to grow. 738 children and young people attended peer group sessions during the year, alongside our individual support and prevention work.
Our outcome measures show improvements across areas including coping and self-care, family life, friendships, school life, health and wellbeing and personal safety.
Listening to the people we support
The people who use our services are at the heart of everything we do, and their feedback continues to shape how we work.
During 2025–26, 201 adult service users shared their feedback. Of those who responded, 96% were satisfied or very satisfied with the support they received, while 97% said they would recommend Safety Net to someone in a similar situation.
We also listened to what people told us could be better. Waiting times were identified as the biggest challenge, and we continue to seek funding and explore ways to increase our capacity so that more people can access support when they need it.
Looking to the future
Our Impact Report isn’t just about looking back. It also sets out our priorities for the year ahead as we continue to develop Safety Net and plan for the future.
Our goals for 2026–27 include developing our 2026–2031 strategy and business plan, strengthening our financial sustainability, continuing to develop our prevention and early intervention work with young people, investing in our people, strengthening partnerships and continuing to improve our services.
We also remain committed to putting lived experience at the heart of our development and ensuring that the voices of the people we support continue to shape what we do.
Thank you
None of this would be possible without the people who make Safety Net what it is.
We’d like to thank our staff, volunteers, trustees, funders, partners and communities for their continued support, commitment and belief in the work we do.
And, most importantly, we’d like to thank everyone who has trusted Safety Net and allowed us to be part of their journey.
We hope you’ll take some time to read our 2025–26 Impact Report and find out more about the people, work and impact behind Safety Net.
