ERG Annual Report 2023-24

WHAT IS THE ERG?

THE EXPERT REFERENCE GROUP (ERG) are a group of male survivors, made up of former and current service users who exercise their voices as ‘experts-by-experience’. No matter whether it be critiquing policymaking, publishing statements, attending public events, or helping to steer We Are Survivors as a charitable organisation, they speak as survivors and with survivors in mind.

Aside from five general meetings held at We Are Survivors’ office, the ERG has been busy over the course of the last financial year. As survivor experts, they have worked to provide valuable insight and criticism to executive staff, acting as the charity’s ‘critical friend’ board. They have also worked tirelessly to have their voices heard beyond We Are Survivors’ office walls, whether it be at public events, or over social media, and in the words of this report itself.

2023 WISDOM OF TRAUMA SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION

IN EARLY 2023, Christopher, while he was a member of the group, was asked to sit on a panel of experts for a Q&A session following a screening of Gabor Mate’s ‘The Wisdom of Trauma’. This was hosted by Manchester City Council in partnership with Greater Manchester Rape Crisis, with Christopher sitting to bring his expertise-by-experience into the follow up discussion. He was invited to a second similar event in June, this time hosted at the Jewish Museum, and had the opportunity to share his experiences and recalled the effects of his trauma to a packed auditorium of over one-hundred attendees from across services all over Greater Manchester.

WE ARE SURVIVORS AND MANDEM

MEETUP LAUNCH SURVIVOR ALLY

ERG MEMBERS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN SHARING THEIR EXPERTISE AS PART OF THE ‘SURVIVOR ALLIES’ VIDEO PROJECT. The project aims to provide trauma-informed resources for particular services that are challenging for survivors to engage with, such as dentists, barbers, and sexual health clinics. The goal of the project is to invite these service professionals to take a video course, enabling professionals to become ‘allies’ to survivors. The video trainings brought together services and survivor service users, addressing positive and negative experiences. We hope that businesses and services will have opportunity to become aware of what might be going through a survivor’s head when a hairdresser or tattoo artists needs to come into close proximity with one’s body. With input from ERG members, they give a voice to these silenced everyday experiences, and hope to raise further awareness for other survivor brothers towards ensuring that good experiences happen in these spaces.

EXPERT REFERENCE GROUP MEMBERS 2024

This report details the activities of individuals that were members of the group from April of 2023 to March of 2024.

Callum Christopher

David John

Matthew Michael

Oliver Rich

Trung

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, CEO, and staff team, we thank every single ERG member for the effort they have put into helping us deliver our mission.

HEAR OUR VOICES SEE OUR WORDS ANIMATIONS

IN CELEBRATION OF WE ARE SURVIVORS’ FIFTEENTH BIRTHDAY, the ERG worked with the Comms & Engagement Team, and with Shahrokh Nael from Orange Attic Films, on fifteen testimonial animations, titled ‘Hear Our Voices See Our Words’. Fifteen survivors, including ERG Members were involved. We all told our stories and spoke about our journeys in our own way, which were then transcribed into animations. Those involved only saw these testimonial animations upon their completion at a select screening at We Are Survivors’ office. The ERG would like to thank the team for how amazing our stories have been transcribed, and for how well these have been presented on screen.

2023 SALFORD DIOCESE SURVIVORS MASS

IN MAY OF 2023, SALFORD CATHOLIC DIOCESE PUT ON ITS ANNUAL SURVIVORS MASS. Two members of the Expert Reference Group were influential in using their voices to ensure the mass was survivor led. Oliver was asked to read at the mass as a group member and representative of We Are Survivors. The service itself was delivered from a place of humility by Bishop John, and from members of the Diocesan Safeguarding team. The mass acknowledged the pain suffered by survivors of abuse from all places and backgrounds. Bishop John emphasised the comfort Jesus Christ gives to all survivors of sexual abuse, exploitation, and rape. It was also a place for honesty around the historic failures of the Catholic Church in addressing internal abuse. For many in attendance, some for the first time in decades, this acknowledgement was felt as a massive step in the right direction on the church’s part. The ERG’s attendance at this mass was key in supporting those that have broken their silence and having them seen be and heard by those that have not yet broken their silence.

ERG THINKING ABOUT THEIR ROLE AND THE FUTURE

IN FEBRUARY OF 2024, ERG MEMBERS OLIVER, JOHN, MATTHEW, AND DAVID, MET WITH DUNCAN, RORY AND CHRISTOPHER AT WE ARE SURVIVORS’ OFFICE FOR A ‘PLANNING DAY’. We used this time to consider the membership needs of the group, how we operate, and how we can better use our experience to guide the organisation. It was an incredibly successful day, and we made some fantastic progress. Not only did we come up with new ideas, but we built a solid foundation for our work in the coming year.

We used the time to establish the ERG’s place in We Are Survivors, concluding that we will act as ‘Trusted Friends’ to both service users and the Board of Trustees respectively. This unique position will allow the group to represent the needs of our fellow survivors across the organisation.

We also discussed holding ERG ‘Surgeries’, to give service users the opportunity to better understand where We Are Survivors is going and to give the chance for everyone to have input into what we are doing and to have their voices heard. Through this platform, we will be providing some of the most survivor-centric responses to government reviews and other requests for feedback in the sector.

Finally, we discussed how we best recruit new members to the group, ensuring that we have a diverse range of experiences and opinions to best represent all male survivors. We have a challenging and exciting year ahead working to guide We Are Survivors in the continuing effort to ensure no male survivor is left behind.

INTERESTED IN THE ERG?

As a survivor-led organisation, we welcome expressions of interest anytime across the financial year, and endeavour to have every available seat filled on our Expert-Reference-Group table.

Email erg@wearsurvivors.org.uk if you would like to send us your membership expression of interest or speak to a member of our Therapy or Community Development Teams if you have any questions or thoughts