Survivors Against Terror (SAT) has launched a campaign to fix what it calls ‘a broken system’ that fails to properly support survivors of terror attacks. The launch comes in the run-up to the forthcoming 20th anniversary of the 7/7 bombing attacks on London and is spearheaded with a new report entitled 7/7 - In Their Words.
SAT says survivors repeatedly speak of:
- being handed sleeping pills or told to “go swimming” instead of trauma support
- facing panic attacks on public transport
- finding healing only years later through privately funded therapy or luck
- navigating complex systems alone at a time when just surviving each day was a battle
The group sets out clear demands in the report:
- immediate psychological triage and support for all
- long-term, trauma-informed care, not just a few weeks of generic therapy.
- a dedicated point of contact to help survivors navigate services, entitlements and paperwork—especially when grief and trauma make those tasks overwhelming.
- proper funding and national standards so that support is not based on postcode or persistence.
Media intrusion and a dehumanising compensation system also come up as regular complaints by survivors.
Report author Jo Berry CBE, whose own father was killed in an earlier terror attack – says:
“Survivors shouldn’t have had to campaign for the care they deserved from the start. But they do. And now, they are using their stories not just to heal but to drive systemic change so that the next time tragedy strikes, the response is one of compassion, structure, and care.
“Our country should approach these issues with the urgency and tenderness they deserve – let’s ensure that no future survivor is left without the care, dignity, and recognition they deserve.”
Download the full report here