The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published an unprecedented online anthology of sexual abuse in institutions, with 125 victims detailing the horrors they experienced in schools, sports clubs, churches and other groups.

Accounts from the victims of abuse have been made available online as part of the inquiry’s Truth Project, in a drive to challenge the stigma surrounding child sexual abuse and encourage others to share their stories.

“The Experiences Shared online anthology serves as a testament to the experiences, reflections and recommendations of those victims who have bravely come forward,” said inquiry chair Prof Alexis Jay. “I hope it will inspire more victims to speak out at the Truth Project.”

The inquiry was set up in 2014 to investigate historical allegations of child abuse, as well as accusations that authorities failed to properly investigate these allegations. It has since suffered delays, with a number of leaders standing down before Jay was appointed in 2015.

An interim report in April found that “all too often” organisations put their reputations before protecting children and tackling abuse. In total, 13 separate investigations are under way, including investigations into the Anglican and Catholic churches, exploitation by organised networks and a number of children’s homes.

The Truth Project is seen by those in the inquiry as an essential part of helping survivors feel they have been listened to. Some 60 accounts will be added to the anthology every four months, so that by the end of the inquiry 1,000 accounts will be published online. In total, 6,000 people have contacted the project, with 1,800 sharing their accounts in person or in writing.

The accounts include the stories of people like Amy, who was raped as a pre-teen by a male teacher who had pretended to be 18 on a teen website. When she went to the police she was told “she couldn’t accuse a man and destroy his life just because she said that he had abused her”.

Lee described being groomed and sexually abused by a Scout leader who exploited his loneliness and vulnerability. He went on to self-harm and while he “held it together” during the abuse, he later tried to kill himself. His abuser was never prosecuted and Lee recently received an email from his wife accusing him of lying and ruining their family.

Analysis by the Truth Project, based on 520 accounts, has uncovered both heartbreaking and heartening trends among abuse survivors.

About half said they were raped, and 20% had been groomed. Among survivors, 85% reported an impact on their mental health, 43% on their education and employment and 42% on their relationships. About 10% of female survivors had become pregnant as a result of their abuse, while 20% of all the analysed cases had experienced post-traumatic stress disorder.

But many survivors also told the inquiry how they had rebuilt their lives, going on to build their own businesses, careers and loving relationships.

One anonymous female contributor who was in the care of nuns as a child wrote how she had been abused by a priest. “I was badly let down by the nuns, the Catholic church and social services, who let them believe they were untouchable! But the worst loss was that of what was my childhood, they robbed me of this,” she wrote. “It was a very emotional experience sharing what happened all those years ago, but they were kind, so kind. I am not sure yet if I feel better, but if sharing prevents others from abusing their powers over children then that can only be good.”

Emma Lewis, a member of the inquiry’s victims and survivors consultative panel, said the process had enabled her to talk about the abuse her mother experienced while in care. “The inquiry has given me the opportunity to stand up and be counted,” she said. “What each and every person who has shared their experiences with the Truth Project needs to know is that you are making a difference, you are changing people’s lives and you are giving them strength and determination.”