Surviving Universal UK launches open letter calling for national evidence on spiritual and cultic abuse
2 September 2026
Surviving Universal UK (SUUK), the UK’s only Black-led specialist organisation dedicated to addressing spiritual and cultic abuse, has launched an open letter urging the UK Government to commission a national call for evidence.
Led by SUUK founder and CEO Rachael Reign, the letter brings together survivors and supporters across safeguarding, psychology, abuse law, equalities, health, local government and the arts.
Founding signatories include social psychologist Dr Alexandra Stein; Richard Scorer, Head of Abuse Law at Slater and Gordon; equalities advocate Saba Ali FRSA; children’s online safety campaigner Ellen Roome MBE; Mayor of Lewisham Liam Shrivastava; and actor and filmmaker Emrhys Cooper.
The letter calls for a coordinated national response to abuse that can fall between safeguarding, criminal justice, charity regulation and support services.
Spiritual and cultic abuse can involve coercion, exploitation, manipulation and control in religious, spiritual and other high-control environments. Belief, authority or belonging may be used to control someone’s relationships, finances, choices or freedom to leave.
The campaign challenges abusive behaviour and failures of accountability. It upholds everyone’s right to practise their faith or beliefs, change them or leave without coercion or fear.
What we are asking for
The open letter urges the Government to:
Establish the nature and scale of spiritual and cultic abuse and who is affected.
Hear directly from survivors, specialist organisations, statutory agencies, regulators and disproportionately affected communities.
Identify gaps across safeguarding, policing, criminal justice, health, charity regulation and specialist support.
Establish clear cross-government responsibility and publish its findings and formal response.
The campaign follows Victoria’s parliamentary inquiry into coercion and harm in high-control groups in Australia, demonstrating the importance of hearing survivors and examining their experiences systematically.
Voices behind the call
Rachael Reign, founder and CEO of Surviving Universal UK, said:
“Spiritual and cultic abuse has been allowed to sit in the gaps between our systems for too long. Survivors are already coming forward every week, yet nationally we still do not have a clear picture of the scale, who is affected or where people are being failed.
“Victoria has shown what can happen when a parliament listens seriously to survivors and follows the evidence. The UK should not wait for another scandal before deciding this deserves national attention.
“We are asking the Government to take one clear first step: gather the evidence. This is not an attack on faith or belief. Everyone should be free to believe, belong, leave or not believe at all without coercion, exploitation or abuse. Accountability Is Not Persecution.”
Ellen Roome MBE, Founder of Jools’ Law and International Campaigner for Children’s Online Safety, said:
“Spiritual and cultic abuse can cause devastating harm, yet too many victims are still being failed by the systems meant to protect them. A national call for evidence is an essential first step towards understanding the scale of the problem and ensuring survivors are heard.”
Saba Ali FRSA, Equalities Advocate, said:
“Spiritual and cultic abuse is coercive control wearing the language of faith, and for too long survivors have been told their harm does not fit anywhere.
“A national call for evidence is the bare minimum. It tells survivors the state is finally prepared to listen and gives the Government the evidence it needs to act. Protecting people from abuse is not an attack on faith; it is what safeguarding exists to do.”
Councillor Ria Patel, Leader of the Green and Independent Group on Croydon Council, said:
“I am extremely concerned by cultic abuse happening across our country, including here in Croydon, where I serve as a councillor. No one should experience cultic or spiritual abuse. Everyone should be free to practise their faith or beliefs without coercion, exploitation, abuse or fear.
“It also concerns me that many of these organisations hide behind the guise of charitable status. We need urgent action to stop this harm from continuing, which is why I fully support the demand for a national call for evidence.”
Dr Alexandra Stein, social psychologist and expert on coercive control and high-control groups, said:
“The Government must take steps to better understand and address this problem that affects tens of thousands of UK residents.”
Add your support
Members of the public, professionals and organisations are invited to read the full open letter and add their support through the campaign page on our website.
Media enquiries: info@survivinguniversaluk.org
About Surviving Universal UK
SUUK supports survivors from all backgrounds through specialist support, advocacy, safeguarding, training, research and public awareness. Its work champions the right of people of all faiths and beliefs, and those with none, to live free from abuse, exploitation and coercion.
