Ask The Question

A system-wide approach to identifying and responding to sexual harm

Ask the Question is a trauma-informed approach that supports frontline services to safely and compassionately ask about experiences of sexual harm.

Originally developed as a pilot, Ask the Question has now evolved into a well-established, evidence-informed model, embedded across services in Barnsley and supporting a long-term shift in how organisations understand, and respond to sexual harm.

Why Ask the Question?

Sexual harm is often hidden.

Many people accessing support for mental health, substance use, housing, or domestic abuse and many others have experienced sexual harm—but may never be asked about it.

Ask the Question helps services to:

Create safe opportunities for disclosure
Understand the root causes of need
Respond in a trauma-informed, supportive way

By asking the question, services can move from responding to symptoms → to understanding experiences, offering tailored support – signposting and referrals when required.

What We Do

We work with organisations to embed compassionate enquiry into everyday practice through:

Training for frontline staff
Building confidence to ask about sexual harm safely and appropriately
Ongoing support and specialist advice
Helping practitioners respond to disclosures and complex situations
Partnership working
Strengthening connections between services to improve pathways for survivors
Embedding trauma-informed approaches
Supporting cultural change across teams and organisations

Our Impact

Over the past three years, Ask the Question has demonstrated significant impact:

5,800+ people asked about their experiences of sexual harm
1,400+ frontline staff trained across Barnsley organisations
Disclosure rates of:
- 20% across all services
- Up to 61% in housing services

This reflects a significant level of previously unmet and hidden need.

Practitioners report:

Increased confidence in asking
More meaningful conversations with service users
A shift towards compassionate curiosity in practice

From Pilot to Sustainability

Ask the Question is now entering its next phase—focused on long-term sustainability and system-wide embedding.

This includes:

A Train the Trainer model to support organisations to deliver internally
Development of Sexual Harm Practice Leads
Strengthening organisational ownership and leadership
Building consistent, high-quality practice across services

Our aim is to ensure Ask the Question becomes business as usual, not an additional intervention.

Strengthening Responses to Disclosure

As more people feel able to share their experiences, it’s essential that services are equipped to respond.

We are now focusing on:

Building confidence in responding, not just asking
Developing clear pathways to support for survivors
Providing specialist guidance and advice to professionals

Because asking the question is only the first step—what happens next matters.

Supporting the Workforce

We recognise that this work can have an emotional impact.

Ask the Question supports organisations to:

Embed trauma-informed supervision
Address vicarious trauma and staff wellbeing
Build safe and supportive environments for staff

A confident, supported workforce is essential to sustainable practice.

Looking Ahead

Our next phase focuses on:

Demonstrating real outcomes for service users
Strengthening quality and consistency across services
Embedding sustainable, long-term delivery models

Ask the Question is not just about asking—it is about creating a system where people feel safe to share, are heard, and receive the support they need.

Get Involved

If you are a service or organisation interested in embedding Ask the Question into your practice, we would love to hear from you.

👉 training@bsarcs.org.uk

Ask the Question gives services the training, support, and confidence they need to break the silence—and change lives.

Download your Barnsley is asking the question poster here

Our Partners

We have been working closely with frontline organisations across Barnsley on Ask the Question. These partners have embedded asking the question

Ask the Question is funded by Barnsley Council Domestic Abuse Partnership. Our training is free of charge for organisations across Barnsley. To speak to us about our Ask the Question project in your organisation contact us here.

Outside Barnsley?

If you’re interested in bringing Ask the Question to your area, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us here to start the conversation.

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