The Maggie Oliver Foundation needs your support to launch a UK-wide phoneline for survivors

The Maggie Oliver Foundation – started by former detective turned whistleblower Maggie Oliver who played an integral role in bringing about the prosecution of a Rochdale grooming gang – needs your help so it can launch and run a UK-wide phone support service for survivors of sexual abuse.

Maggie launched her foundation earlier this year, followed by a pilot centre in Rochdale with the aim of helping survivors of sexual abuse to 'transform pain into power'.

The pilot centre closed a few weeks after opening due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but efforts are now being focused into a sexual abuse phone line, training and special IT systems. 

The phone line will not be an incoming service; instead, survivors contact the foundation through its website, social media or email, and a call is made to the survivor by the foundation.

In a video update, Maggie said: “We need money now to help us spread the word, fight for survivors and fight for justice for those who are being failed. There’s so much work going on, but we can only do so much in the way that we are.

“We’re building a contact database, training, all kinds of things, but we need funding to do that. Please support us in any way you can. Together we can change the world, but I need you to help; I can’t do this on my own anymore.”

The foundation hopes to raise £25,000 by the end of November 2020 to run the foundation and help Maggie, the trustees and ambassadors continue their work.

She added: "We have helped almost 2,000 survivors since June 2019 and numbers are growing all the time, and we are challenging the statutory agencies who are still failing to properly address these crimes and support survivors. We actually already call out to survivors, but we are expanding this service as my case worker and I have a deluge of cries for help."

Mum of four Maggie joined the police force in 1997 as a detective and family liaison officer working on major murders. She later left the service following its handling of a sex abuse case, which saw nine men convicted after targeting vulnerable girls in Rochdale and Heywood.

All of the victims were under-age white British girls, and accusations were made that the authorities had failed to thoroughly investigate the issue amid fears of being accused of racism.

She was portrayed by Leslie Sharp in the 2016 BBC drama ‘Three Girls’, which is based on the true stories of young victims of sexual abuse.

Maggie was awarded a special recognition accolade at the 2020 Pride of Manchester awards for her work in highlighting child grooming.

To donate to the Maggie Oliver Foundation, please visit:

• themaggieoliverfoundation.com/crowd/product/the-maggie-oliver-foundation-funding/