A.S.S.C (ACCOMPANIMENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN)

A.S.S.C. (Accompaniment Support Services for Children) is a trauma‑informed organisation dedicated to guiding young people and their families through the Irish criminal‑justice system. All staff are trained in Trauma Informed Care, ensuring that support is delivered with empathy, safety and respect.

The service portfolio spans forensic accompaniment—volunteers accompany children and families to Sexual Assault Treatment Units in Dublin, Galway and Cork—and a 24‑hour phone line that offers listening, advocacy and practical advice to adults supporting victims or witnesses. In the courts, A.S.S.C. provides pre‑trial meetings, continuous accompaniment throughout trials and post‑trial follow‑up, operating on a nationwide basis. A dedicated Youth Advocate also works within the Barnahus West team, giving a voice to young survivors of sexual violence. The 2024 Impact Report shows a 59 % rise in forensic accompaniments, a 136 % increase in forensic support communications, a 37 % boost in court accompaniments and a 27 % uplift in court‑support communications, underscoring the organisation’s growing reach and effectiveness.