Betty TV
(added 10th November 2008)
Betty TV are looking for adult adoptees who are survivors of sexual abuse, who would be willing to be filmed talking to some prospective adopters about the impact of abuse on their lives, and how their adoptive families have helped them come to terms with their experiences.
For more information please download the following:
BBC Panorama
(added 31st October 2008)
The BBC’s Panorama programme is making a documentary about pupil on pupil sexual bullying in schools. They are using the Department for Children, Schools and Families definition of sexual bullying to include a range of behaviour from name-calling, uninvited or inappropriate touching and use of pornography to sexual assault and rape.
The programme will explore the impact of sexual bullying on children and young people and will explore what can be done to tackle it in schools.
They want to hear from people who have experience of sexual bullying. Maybe you suffered an assault while at school or your child has been a victim.
All calls will be treated in the utmost confidence and interviews can be filmed anonymously.
Please contact Sarah Rest on 0207 713 6868 or sarah@flametv.co.uk. Thank you.
Sarah's Law articles
(added 23rd October 2008)
I am working on a series of articles about Sarah's Law and the issues it raises for The Western Mail and South Wales Echo newspapers and would really welcome the opportunity to interview people who have suffered abuse at the hands of family members or friends, to counteract the 'predatory paedo on every street corner' image that official statistics can perhaps portray.
I can guarantee anonymity, and while I am unable to offer any form of payment for stories told. potential interviewees will know that by talking to me they have the chance to make a real difference to those who may be the victims of abusive relationships now.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch should you require any further information.
Best regards,
Sarah Manners (News & Features Writer for Media Wales)
029 2024 3633 sarah.manners@mediawales.co.uk
NSPCC's 'Your Family' Magazine
(added 14th October 2008)
My name is Gail Titchener and I'm a freelance writer. I'm currently looking
for case studies for the NSPCC's 'Your Family' magazine. The feature is about parents who've changed an aspect of their lives - lost
weight, stopped smoking, given up work or set up a new business from home,
moved to the country from the city, learned to read, fought an addiction, or
generally turned their life around - for their kids. I am especially looking for a mum with children aged 0-8 who has made the
decision to stop smacking their children because they found that it was
affecting their relationship with their child, or because their kids were
smacking/hitting other children. Please note that you can remain
anonymous, if preferred. If you think you can help or would like to call me to discuss any of these
points, my email is gailtitchener@hotmail.com and my number is 07795 167902.
Rough Guides Book
(added 6th October 2008)
I am a writer, currently researching what I hope will be the definitive guide to sex and sexuality. It covers the how-tos of sex but, unlike most books on the subject, also the cultural, ethical, historical and spiritual angles. In one section, I discuss recovering from child sexual abuse as an adult. I describe what issues people may face, and where they can turn for help. But I also want to include a few first-person quotations, to help inspire and encourage others to find the courage or strength to seek help - or at least more information. Would anyone like to share any thoughts on their experience of recovery (not of the abuse)? I could put a half-dozen questions by email, perhaps. Everything would be anonymous and confidential. My book is being published by Rough Guides in 2009-10. with thanks, James McConnachie, roughguidejamesATyahoo.co.uk (please retype the word AT with the @symbol).
Online Study
(added 2nd October 2008)
To take part in an anonymous on-line questionnaire study about women’s psychological well-being following childhood sexual abuse please follow this link:
http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/sciences/psychology/researchsurvey/
Media Opportunity
(added 12th August 2008)
My name’s Melanie Smith and I’m a journalist at The Press Association. We’re the UK’s national news agency, and I write true-life stories for various national newspapers and women’s magazines.
I cannot begin to imagine what you have all been through. Since working as a journalist I have worked with many victims of sexual abuse and their response to the stories has been fantastic. I have always believed - and my experience writing about this subject has backed it up - that by victims speaking out about their experience of abuse, we can remove the stigma. Child abuse is a horrific - but sadly common - occurance, and it is also something that needs to be highlighted and portrayed to the outside world to raise awareness of the horror so many children go through every day. And if one person is given the courage to go to the police after reading about someone else's conviction, than at least something good could result from your experience.
I’d like to ask whether you might be interested in sharing your story with one of the newspapers or magazines I write for? I write a lot of true-life stories, giving people the chance to share their experiences with other people. I am sure lots of people would be very interested in hearing your story, and it would be a good chance to highlight what’s happened to a wider audience.
If you are interested, I would be happy to discuss what would be involved before you make up your mind. Nothing would be published without your full knowledge and agreement, and I would go over the copy with you before it’s published, to ensure it’s accurate. And you would be paid a fee for your time. Please give me a call on 0207 963 7247 or 07870 247895, and I will call you straight back so we can discuss it. I hope to hear from you.
Calling all Survivors...
(added 11th August 2008)
Have you suffered abuse but come back fighting? NOW magazine is looking for inspirational young women (aged 22-38) who have overcome an abusive situation and turned their lives around.
Your story would appear in our exciting new Back From The Brink column - which will include inspiring real life articles about people like you.
Speaking out is a great way to highlight the issue and also inspire any of our readers going through the same thing to get help and turn their lives around like you have.
Anyone interested, please call Maddy Biddulph on 0203 148 6353 or email her at maddy_biddulph@ipcmedia.com outlining your story.
Please be assured, the article will be positive and sensitive to your ordeal, and they can read it to you before publication.
Are you a victim of online grooming?
(added 31st July 2008)
My name is Anshu Rastogi and I work for ITV. We are making two one hour documentaries for ITV1 about how predatory paedophiles are being hunted down online. We have exclusive access following the work of the Metropolitan Police Paedophile Unit. We will be broadcasting the full details of the paedophiles the police arrest and end up charging. The reason we can do this is because we will be waiting for the paedophiles to be convicted and sent to prison before we broadcast.
This way we can show the true affects and impact that a paedophile has on their victims, victims’ families as well as the paedophile’s families. I realise how hard this will be for many you, but we would love to talk to someone who has been a victim of online grooming as part of our documentaries. As I feel this is the only to highlight the plight and true nature of what happens to victims. Also, by being able to talk about your experience from the way you were groomed to the way it has affected you emotionally, will send a strong message to paedophiles watching the documentaries. The last thing a paedophile wants to see or be publicised in any way is the “victims’ story”.
So please, if any of you feel you could meet me initially (completely confidential and no obligation to take part) then please get in touch with me at the following contact details:
Anshu.rastogi@itv.com
Mobile: 07717467318
Please also copy NAPAC's CEO (Peter Saunders) into any email you send me to ensure you get a rapid response. His email address is peter@napac.org.uk.
Taking Control of your smear test
(added 3rd of July 2008)
Judith Walker is a nurse who is working on ways to make the smear test less threatening and more comfortable. For more information download the following word document.
Child Sexual Abuse and the Internet
(added 19th June 2008)
A prominent writer who is researching an article about the impact of child sexual abuse has contacted us. He is hoping to speak to a young survivor of child sexual abuse where the internet played a part - either because images were distributed across the internet, or because computers or other new technology was used to groom the child or young person. Anonymity is absolutely guaranteed and location, name and other personal details can be disguised. The aim is to convey to ordinary people who have never thought much about this subject just how much this experience can affect someone. The writer can travel anywhere within the UK. If you are interested in this please contact Helen Munt (helen@napac.org.uk) and she will pass your details on.
Feature
(added 17th June 2008, updated 15th August 2008)
My name is Sally Wilson and I’m a features writer based in Edinburgh. I write for the UK’s top women’s magazines and national newspapers including that’s life, Take A Break, Woman, Pick Me Up, love it!, Real People, Bella, best, the Daily Mirror, Daily Mail and Daily Express.
I write real-life stories tackling issues such as childhood abuse and would like to speak to male or female survivors of abuse between the ages of 18-50 who have seen their abusers convicted in court, with a view to doing a feature which may help others come forward and speak out.
If after we’ve had a chance to talk and you’ve had any questions answered, you decide you’d like to go ahead and do a feature, it would be written in your own words and the magazine would also pay you a fee for taking the time and trouble to share your story which you could donate to charity if you’d like.
All features would be read back before they were published to ensure the details were factually correct.
Please either give me a ring on 0131 478 9626 or email sally.wilson@blueyonder.co.uk if you’d like to find out more about what would be involved. If, after we’ve spoken, you decide it’s not for you, that’s no problem. You’re under no obligation.
MOSAC Volunteers
(added 30th May 2008)
MOSAC (a charity supporting non-abusing parents and carers of sexually abused children) are looking for more volunteers, and have a new training course starting in September 2008. For more information download the following:
Research Study
The deadline for this study has been extended and a few more volunteers are desperately needed as soon as possible.
Volunteers are sought to participate in a research study. If you are an adult survivor of sexual abuse/incest and are willing to contribute to this study please read on.
Deborah Petrich is a Masters Degree student at Regents College School of Counselling and Psychotherapy and she is conducting research on child sexual abuse/incest. She is looking for adult survivors of child sexual abuse/incest, who remember telling their mothers and are willing to talk about their experience. She knows that survivors of abuse have a lot to contribute to her understanding of survivors' experiences. Becoming involved in such a project would indeed make a valuable contribution to her knowledge. Your contribution would require that you are available for an interview of about 1.30 hours. If you are interested in taking part please contact her at dpetrich2003@yahoo.co.uk. The study is completely anonymous and strictly confidential. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Any queries about participation in the project will be addressed and participants will receive a detailed information leaflet.
Note:Participant researchers will be interviewed in London.
I was never Loved as a child.
I’m searching for adults who were not loved as children to sit for portraits as part of an emotionally positive project.
I want to prove that not all those with rough, abused, neglected & unloved childhoods, end up as criminals or villains & don’t pass on to their children what was done to them or how “they” were treated & in fact many manage not only to better themselves but also have loving families & live normal lives despite their upbringing.
They Heal themselves.
How often do you hear in the news that lawyers representing a criminal are pleading for mercy or indeed lower sentences because their client- the criminal- came from a troubled childhood! Should we feel sorry for a manic, an alcoholic child abuser, a drug dealer because HE had a troubled childhood & justify treating his children in the same way?
“I was never loved as a child” will document personal emotional values that some of us have to deal with throughout our lives & in particular during maturity.
I’m looking for 24 “adults” who would like to participate and agree to a portrait session with just a few words that would accompany each picture describing their feelings or message.
Ultimately, I’m hoping that the portraits to be a very positive emotional journey in a public photography exhibition.
To take part in this project, or just to talk about it first, please feel free to contact me: Johnny Mobasher on 07807 052 397 or email unlovedchild@googlemail.com
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I was very nervous about using the phone line. It's hard to talk about what happened. But the lady I spoke to was so lovely I was at once at ease. She allowed me to take my time and explain and made me feel that I was valued and that how I was, was important to her. It was good to talk.
~ A female survivor
