Beyond the Silence - We Are Survivors Magazine Issue 3

To start with, we are launching our new support provision for the wives and husbands, girlfriends and boyfriends, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, and all the loved ones of male victims/survivors with the ‘Supporter Safe Room’. We have always provided 1:1 therapy support for those that support male survivors, but after much discussion we’re providing them a safe space to meet together and hopefully finding some strength in togetherness.

We talk to our ISVA team about the difference having an ISVA can make; and we lift the lid on a brand-new project we are leading across Greater Manchester to build six new ABE suites in survivor organisations, giving victim/survivors the opportunity to undertake their ABE in a space they feel comfortable in and not necessarily have to go to a Police Station. I’m really proud to work with Greater Manchester Rape Crisis, Caribbean & African Health Network, Fortalice, MASH, and hopefully DIAS and the Women’s Centre network.

Three We Are Survivors supercharged apprentices share what it’s been like undertaking their training whilst working in We Are Survivors (including one who picked up a number of awards along the way!).

And finally, CEO Duncan Craig shares with readers his reflections on telling stories of male survivorship on TV as we have done with Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, Eastenders and at the moment Casualty. There is such richness in doing this and I hope that our new GM VCFSE Victims and Justice Workstream can be THE go-to for TV and stage drama in future.

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