Survivors Matter support group featured on BBC North West Tonight

A Rochdale support group specifically for male survivors of sexual abuse featured on BBC North West Tonight on Monday (12 November).

Collective group Survivors Matter (formerly Survivors First) launched a peer support group in September for male survivors of sexual abuse, following campaigning and awareness work in Rochdale, highlighting the issue of childhood sexual abuse.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/122043/support-group-launched-for-male-survivors-of-sexual-abuse

An estimated 12,000 men are raped in the UK every year, and more than 70,000 are sexually abused or assaulted, according to the charity Survivors UK.

The Survivors Matter peer to peer group meets every fortnight and hopes to establish a nationwide network.

Speaking to North West Tonight, abuse survivor Simon Hart said: “When things like this happen, you do think about killing yourself because you feel you’ve got no power.

“You don’t know who to turn to. It took me a long time to speak to my family because it’s just hard saying the words. A lot of the problem is that it’s taboo.”

Daniel Wolstencroft, a group founder, said: “There’s a distinct lack of funding for face-to-face support. There are massive waiting lists; we’re cutting those. When someone gets in touch, we’ll meet them straight away within 72 hours.”

During October’s full council meeting, former MP and paedophile Cyril Smith was posthumously stripped of the Freedom of Rochdale over his sickening catalogue of child abuse over several decades.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/123143/cyril-smith-stripped-of-the-freedom-of-borough

The honour was removed in just three minutes by a unanimous vote at a full meeting of Rochdale Council following a complaint from one of Smith’s victims.

The motion to remove the accolade from Smith, who died in 2010, was moved by leader of the council, Allen Brett.

Last year’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse heard how the politician had raped and abused boys at Knowl View special school in the 1980s and carried out abuse at Cambridge House Boys Hostel in the 1960s.

 

 

On Thursday (15 November), members and representatives of Survivors Matter held a silent flash demo, gathering outside Rochdale Town Hall with tape over their mouths, symbolising their cause of “highlighting the many years of Rochdale Council silencing survivors of abuse”.

In response to the demo, a council spokesman said: “Our response to the sexual abuse of children is a matter of public record, as are the many reports, investigations and inquiries that have taken place in recent years.

"Any suggestion that this authority does not take child protection issues seriously is wrong and not supported by any evidence.

"Ofsted also highlighted how the council provides a strong multi-agency response for children and adult survivors of sexual exploitation. The service, developed with partners like Greater Manchester Police, is recognised as a model that other local authorities can learn from."

Survivors Matter peer support runs every two weeks, facilitated by two group members who are experienced in delivering peer support sessions.

More information is available upon request via email, including group location:

peer2peer@survivorsmatter.uk