#SurvivorSquad

Survivor Squad is a page dedicated to the survivors of domestic and/or sexual abuse, who have bravely spoken out to help others or change the law. It is only with their voices that we can hope to end sexual and domestic abuse.

We hope that their stories of courage inspire you as much as they do us.

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Survivors helped by Staying Put

Jo

Jo

With our support, Jo gained the strength she needed to leave an abusive relationship. She has shared her story with us in the hopes to inspire other people. Watch her story here.

P*

P*

We supported P to get her stalker convicted. P showed bravery and courage and has agreed to let us share her story to help other people in the same position.

*Name changed

T*

T*

We supported T within a person centred approach and provide ongoing emotional support. We understood that we needed to liaise and work in a multi agency partnership to provide a holistic rounded support to T and her child.

 

*Name changed

Alaia*

Alaia*

“The day I rang for help, the day I realised it was time for me to leave, it was the last time I let my abuser hurt me.”

Alaia had been in an abusive relationship once before, with her child’s father. Her child was picked up from school one day by Dad and not returned. She had been violently assaulted by her new partner but the pain of not being with her child made her want to not go on. Alaia did not want to report anything to the police, but wanted to have a safe planned move out.

Alaia recalls the day she arrived to the refuge, she was met by two staff who comforted her and told her “I was safe now… it was genuinely one of the most empowering moments of my life.” Alaia’s partner was charged with stalking and harassment and remanded in custody. She and her child are safe, happy and thriving in their new community.

*Name changed

Survivors who have spoken out

Tarana Burke

Tarana Burke

Tarana founded the #MeToo movement in 2006 to help survivors of sexual abuse. She created the saying as a way to empower sexually assaulted people- particularly vulnerable women of colour, through empathy, solidarity and strength in numbers by demostrating how many people have experienced sexual assault and harrassment. In 2017 the movement spread virally due to the sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein, a Hollywood film producer.

Mary Sharp, Laura Hughes and Lauren Preston

Mary Sharp, Laura Hughes and Lauren Preston

Mary Sharp, Laura Hughes and Lauren Preston all waived their right to anonymity and banded together to secure a conviction against Martin Butler. The three women did not know each other. They only met when Laura put out a Facebook appeal asking for victims of Butler to come forward. Butler recieved 11 years in prison, restraining orders were put in place to prevent contact with his victims and he must sign the sex offenders register.

Gina Martin

Gina Martin

Whilst at a music festival, Gina Martin noticed that a man had taken a picture of her. Enraged, she started an 18 month campaign to make being Upskirted a criminal offence. Between April 2020 and June 2021, 49 people have been prosecuted for 128 offences under the Voyerism Offences Act. Gina continues to campaign today.

The Bronte sisters

The Bronte sisters

The Bronte sisters were writing about coersive control long before it became recognised in law, most notably in their novels Wuthering Heights and Jane Ayre.

Rupi Kaur

Rupi Kaur

Through her strong poetry, Rupi Kaur addresses topics such as rape, menstruation and domestic abuse. Kaur was inspired to perform poetry as she ‘Wanted to find a voice, because I had been voiceless for so long.’

You can find out more about her here

Celebrity survivors who have spoken out

Georgia Harrison

Georgia Harrison

Georgia Harrison was a victim of revenge porn by her ex-boyfriend. She waived her anonymity in order to raise awareness of this issue and speaking openly and frankly about the barriers she faced. She also managed to secure a conviction, her ex boyfriend was jailed for 21 months, has to sign the sex offenders register and is not allowed to contact Garogia for five years.

Raye

Raye

Raye released her song ‘Ice Cream Man’ to detail her experiences with sexual abuse.

Zara McDermott

Zara McDermott

Zara has made documentaries about revenge porn and rape culture, including discussing her own experiences of having nude images leaked online.

Jessy Nelson

Jessy Nelson

Jesy highlighted the realities of being in an abusive relationship with her song ‘Bad Thing’. She worked with domestic abuse charities to accurately portray an abusive relationship.

Mel B

Mel B

Mel has a long track record of speaking openly about the domestic abuse she has suffered. She has also campaigned against the abuse she has suffered including creating her video ‘Love Should Not Hurt’ and working alongside domestic abuse charities.

Emily Atack

Emily Atack

Emily’s documentary ‘Asking for it’ explored her experiences of being sexually harrassed online daily. In it she questioned the culture of blaming the victims for the harrassment, rather than the perpetrator.

Anton Du Beke

Anton Du Beke

Anton has spoken openly about the abuse he experiened from his father, stating: ‘If people, or someone, take courage from it, then that’s a good thing.’

Call for help now

0808 2800 999

Open Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 4:30pm (closed for half an hour lunch at 1pm)
Our One Front Door helpline is completely free and confidential, and the call will not show up on itemised bills.

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