Building a society where NO male survivor is left behind
FROM THE CEO
Sixteen going on seventeen.
“THE PUBLICATION OF THIS LATEST EDITION OF BEYOND THE SILENCE sees our amazing charity become another year older, so I begin my opening letter by wishing us a very happy 17th Birthday, but can you believe it? We Are Survivors has been going for 17 years!
Our boy is certainly growing up fast and there is no way on this earth that it was only 12 months ago that he turned 16 – the age of consent. And so, as we say goodbye to 16 and go on to 17 (I feel like I should be wearing lederhosen made out of curtains and dancing around a plat-glass gazebo now after saying that), I want to invite you to take the theme of this issue – CONSENT – and share with us your thoughts and feelings on the subject.
film on consent’ which was created by our inspiring friends at Traumascapes with male survivors; Kaelin talks about our ISVA service and the importance of consent; Matt unlocks the prison gate to share with you how our lads in prison got involved in our year of consent; and one incredible survivor Paul shares his story and gives us an exclusive extract of his new book ‘Breaking the Silence’.
and
by our Grahame. We’d love your feedback. What would you like to see in future
Inside the pages of this edition, Daniel and Grahame talk about our ON IT ChemSex Conference which we present with our partners at George House Trust; Theo shares with you our ongoing coproduction project with our brothers at Mandem Meetup focusing on ensuring businesses providing personal care to male survivors understand the need for consent; we take a sneak peak at
I hope what you read gives you more than food for thought, I hope it helps you engage as many people as possible into the subject of consent and I hope that you will join us in our 17th year of ensuring NO MALE SURVIVOR IS LEFT BEHIND.”
DUNCAN CRAIG OBE Chief Executive Officer
REST IN POWER
BARONESS HELEN NEWLOVE
We lost a wonderful, compassionate ally in November.
ON THE 11 NOVEMBER 2025, BARONESS HELEN NEWLOVE, VICTIMS COMMISSIONER FOR ENGLAND AND WALES SADLY PASSED AWAY.
For anyone that ever met Baroness Newlove, they will have heard the line “call me Helen” said with the most authentic, loving, Northern tone that feels like the words gave you a great big hug. She was a wonderful and long time friend to us all here at We Are Survivors and was one of the first officials to be calling for a separate strategy focusing on men and boys as victims.
Tributes to Helen poured into the Office of the Victims Commissioner and so many of the beautiful words said about her were captured for all to read including those from our very own CEO who always treasured his friendship with Helen.
Duncan said “I will always hold Helen in such high regard and I will always be in debt to the care and compassion she showed me and taught me how to show others.”
You can read the tributes to Baroness Helen here: victimscommissioner.org.uk/ baroness-helen-newlove
ACCESSING COUNSELLING RECORDS
A higher legal threshold for accessing counselling records to police and investigators has come into effect, which has been welcomed by many survivor organisations.
The new Code of Practice states that investigators requests for victim and survivors counselling notes and information should be presumed unnecessary and disproportionate; and a new higher threshold will have to be met in order for access to be granted.
X ORDERED TO COMPLY WITH UK LAW
Elon Musk’s social media platform X has been forced to implement technological measures to prevent its AI function, Grok, from creating CSAM (child sexual abuse material) and non-consensual nudes. The platform has vowed to take appropriate action against accounts that violate these rules, including reporting users to the Police.
NICK
Senior Information and Data
Analyst
“I joined We Are Survivors in January 2023 so this marks my third year here! In that time, I have taken on more responsibility and am now in the role of Senior Information and Data Analyst. It’s my job to ensure that the team are inputting data correctly, and that we are accurately reporting our data to our funders and stakeholders. But I am also tasked by our Chief Executive Officer to dive into the information we collect on a regular basis and look for patterns, points of interest, and anything that might make us better at what we do and respond quicker to changing needs.”
Find out more about our work at: www.wearesurvivors.org.uk
THE DIFFERENCE WE MAKE. AT A GLANCE.
SUPPORT MJ!
A LEAP OF FAITH!
Our MJ is about to take on the challenge of his life in support of We Are Survivors...
MICHAEL, ONE OF WE ARE SURVIVORS’ TRAINEE TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPISTS, HAS DECIDED TO RAISE SOME MONEY FOR WE ARE SURVIVORS BY… JUMPING OUT OF A PLANE!
MJ has been undertaking a personal challenge of doing something that he finds scary or challenging every month for a year. For his big finale, he is going to do a skydive to raise awareness of the support available to male survivors of sexual harms.
Michael told us, “As an employee here, I have been inspired on a daily basis by my colleagues and by those who engage with our services as survivors and loved ones. We Are Survivors offers a vast range of support, from help through the criminal justice system, to peer support and great community activities, to a
diverse and tailored set of approaches to therapy. Having lived experience of sexual assault myself, I want to end my 2025 challenge by giving back to an organisation that has done so much for me on both a professional and deeply personal level.”
MJ’s jump has had to be re-scheduled a couple of times, but it’s imminent, and it’s not too late to show your support. At the time of going to press, MJ had raised just over £1000. If you’d like to make a contribution, just scan the QR code below to donate what you can. The sky’s the limit!
WHERE YOUR DONATION CAN GO...
Whatever you can donate, we guarantee it will help male survivors...
£30 DONATION
funds a Survivors’ Health Walk, a weekly stroll for a small group aimed at improving health and reducing isolation
£85 DONATION
funds a drop-in session, which is a safe and informal space to grab a brew and connect with fellow survivors and our friendly team
£200 DONATION
funds four ‘The Garden’ sessions at RHS Bridgewater, weekly horticultural sessions where survivors learn new skills, benefit from outdoor activity and develop a supportive community
£500 DONATION
funds six sessions of one-to-one trauma-informed therapy, helping a client to understand and work through the impact of their abuse
£900 DONATION
funds one place on our Healing Steps programme, twelve one-to-one sessions of advice, emotional support and practical coping strategies.
Scan the QR code to download your FREE fundraising info pack.
We’re proud to work with our brothers at Mandem Meetup.
Mandem Meetup is a grassroots charity promoting, and improving the conversation around men’s mental health and wellbeing. They provide an open, inclusive community for all those who identify as a man, offering psycho-social interventions and recreational activities, to practical advice and guidance, as well as talking therapy and more. Find out more at mandemmeetup.org
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE...
Our Survivor Ally project with Mandem Meetup is going through some changes. Here’s THEO with the details.
This edition of Beyond The Silence focusses very much on the issue of consent, and consent is at the heart of our collaborative campaign with our brothers at Mandem Meetup.
2026 will see the campaign - which is designed to make the experiences of male survivors in public services space safe and respectful - turn two years old. Theo, who manages the campaign for We Are Survivors, in collaboration, and with the consent of Mandem Meetup, told us, “We’re marking the occasion of the campaign’s second birthday with something big. We’re launching a complete rebrand of the site, elevating everything from the design to the
quality of information you’ll find there. It’s a fresh new look for a growing movement. Keep an eye on our socials (@thisissurvivors on all platforms) for updates and sneak peeks. In the meantime, why not complete your training today at weareallies.org.uk and become a Survivor Ally.”
The website and campaign refresh will launch on 1st April 2026.
Scan the QR code to listen to visit the Survivor Ally site and take the test! TAKE THE TEST!
MANDEM MEETUP
SHORT FILM
IT'S AN ISSUE OF CONSENT
We Are Survivors proudly presents its upcoming new short film “an untitled film about consent”.
THE SURVIVOR-LED ARTS AND SCIENCE COLLECTIVE TRAUMASCAPES, dedicated to changing the ecosystem of trauma and creating new horizons for survivors, was commissioned by We Are Survivors to create a film on consent.
Director Julian Triandafyllou led an inspiring group of survivor-artists and male survivors to create a piece of film that is described providing the viewer with a beautiful focal point to begin a conversation.
Julian told Beyond The Silence: “I’m so so glad I was able to work on this project and deliver something worthy of the work being done.” and we are so grateful
to him for the care and compassion he brought to this sensitively made film. Underpinning the film is a powerful poem written and performed by our very own Lived Experience Lead, Christopher; a selection of still images taken by male survivors; and an insight into a talking circle facilitated by Mandem Meetup.
THE PREMIERE
If you’re lucky enough to be coming along, this amazing short film will receive its World Premiere at The ON IT Conference 2026 (page 8) on Friday 30th January 2026, at The Eagle Manchester; and then from the 5th February you will be able to see the film on our website and YouTube channel.
AS THIS EDITION OF BEYOND THE SILENCE IS PUBLISHED, our city will host the first ever ChemSex Conference on Friday 30th January at The Eagle Bar, Manchester.
The ON IT Conference invites health professionals, LGBT+ venue owners, Chemsex participants - and anyone who is interested! - to a day of discussion and sharing knowledge around chems, sex, HIV and consent. The event will be anything but dry and boring. As the famous Tony Wilson quote goes, “This is Manchester, we do things differently here”. We’re planning an event that will be unafraid to tackle challenging topics and we’ll be presenting it in a chat-show format. Think Graham Norton and guests on the
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE ON IT CONFERENCE ON 30TH JANUARY
sofa. We’re also planning some unique entertainment from some of Manchester’s top drag performers. The day will see guests focussing on each of the four ‘pillars’ of the ON IT campaign - sex, chems, HIV and consent.
Daniel Griffin from We Are Survivors and part of the organising team for The ON IT Conference explained why there’s a need for the Conference, and why these conversations are so important, “Manchester has always been a city that has challenged the status quo and been unafraid to have ‘difficult’ and honest conversations. Creating the ON IT Conference reinforces that visibility and support for those who do take part in ChemSex activities is vital, and that we’re non-judgemental in our approach. No person should be sigmatised for the choices they make. I only advise people to be safe, know what you’re taking, and if something goes wrong... know where to turn to.”
“MANCHESTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CITY UNAFRAID TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO...”
The professionals taking part in the ON IT Conference also embrace the foundations of the ON IT harm-reduction campaign. We’ll be welcoming people from the health and justice sectors, adult content creation industry, venue owners and of course people with lived experience of ChemSex - because who better to lead those conversations than those who KNOW?
The messaging and design approach of the ON IT campaign mirrors the HIV prevention campaigns of the early 90’s. Grahame Robertson from We Are Survivors has developed the look and tone of the campaign and has a background in harm-reduction messaging from that time. He told us, “One of the most successful health info campaigns ever was spearheaded by those early HIV prevention organisations. They were led by people with lived experience, who understood how to talk to their peers. There was a nononsense, almost cheeky approach to delivering health messages, and there’s no denying that it worked. The ON IT campaign very knowingly looks to that approach to deliver its message. Fans of 80’s bands like Frankie Goes To Hollywood might also recognise some of the iconography we’re using in the campaign. It’s a very deliberate nod to a specific time of bold, unambiguous campaigning and messaging.”
The ON IT Conference 2026 takes place at The Eagle Bar Manchester. The guys at The Eagle are hugely aware of the importance of consent. If you’re a regular visitor you’ll have seen positive consent messaging across the venue. The ON IT team are hugely grateful to The Eagle for their support. It couldn’t be a more perfect venue for the very first ON IT Conference. Find out more about ON IT at
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
ON IT IS A JOINT CAMPAIGN FROM WE ARE SURVIVORS AND GEORGE HOUSE TRUST , and is a source of relevant information about sex, chems, HIV and consent, to inform, understand and help keep people safe because sometimes things do wrong. The campaign developed from the groundbreaking report ‘Sex, Chems, HIV & Consent’ by Dr. Michael Atkins (aka Cheddar Gorgeous, above) which centred the voices of those who have sex whilst using chems, with all messaging and information shaped by the community for the community. ON IT is aimed at those who engage in sexuality activity; under the influence of drugs and alcohol and are active in chemsex community to provide further information on harm reduction and support should you need it.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO READ DR. MICHAEL’S REPORT...
WOULD THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN...
In the last few months, the UK Government had made a number of announcements that will directly impact male survivors. Our Chief Executive Officer, DUNCAN , and our Senior Information and Policy Officer, RORY, take a look at the two key plans making the news.
IN NOVEMBER 2025, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE, RT HON WES STREETING MP, PUBLISHED THE FIRST EVER MEN’S HEALTH STRATEGY WHICH PLANS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF BOYS AND MEN IN THE UK. It aims to tackle persistent health inequalities by addressing the fact that men die younger on average, are more likely to experience preventable conditions such as heart disease, cancer and poor mental health, and are less likely to seek help or access services early.
The contributions our organisation made to the drafting of the men’s health strategy in its consultation phase was a chance for us to reflect on the physical and mental health of our own male survivor community. We saw a higher likelihood of men with PTSD or ACES potentially missing appointments, in addition to seeing a 2% rate of diabetes, 2.4% heart disease and 3.5% rate of progressive conditions (including cancer and HIV) in our community. With these statistics, we were able to highlight to the Department of Health and Social care the way our Pathfinder and ISVA services create tailored care plans for survivors that bring a variety of healthcare agencies in to support the particular health needs of male survivors.
A month later in December 2025, the Safeguarding Minister, Jess Phillips MP, supported by the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon David Lammy, published the long awaited Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy which this time came with an explanatory note on how male survivors feature in this strategy.
The note opens stating that this is “A Strategy that recognises men and boys in their own right” and that the Government recognises that men and boys also experience abusive and violent crimes; and they understand “that in recognising the disproportionate impact these crimes have on women and girls, men and boys can, and have been,
overlooked”. However, in the same breath the Government also heard our calls for a separate strategy and to stop referring to men and boys as victims of violence against women and girls and concluded that a separate strategy could lead to duplication and poor coordination across multiple strategies, weakening the overall response for men and boys.
We Are Survivors strongly refuses this claim as the separate strategy we have in Greater Manchester has only strengthened the support response for male survivors. However, despite our disagreement on this matter, we are 100% committed to working with the Government on delivering for all victims and survivors.
We are very pleased to see government acknowledge that 4.1% of men experience sexual harms before the age of 18, that harmful stereotypes around masculinity are significant barriers to men and boys’ disclosure, as well as acknowledging the 2018 Reynhard Sinaga case as the biggest rape case in British legal history. It further pointed to the rapidly evolving situation of online ‘sextorsion’, in which victims are being exploited in the generation of nude images (sometime via AI),then extorted by perpetrators to pay them so that these are not distributed. 91% of sextortion victims so far are boys.
We are extremely proud of Michael and Daniel, two of our lads who shared with the Government their lived experiences as survivors, strengthening the voice of male survivors and being visible.
And so it seems 2026 is bursting with opportunity to change the way officials see male survivors, build support and infrastructure for male survivors, which all goes towards us making our vision a reality and that no male survivor is left behind.
“Despite WE ARE SURVIVORS’ disagreement on this matter, we are 100% committed to working with the Government on delivering for ALL victims and survivors.”
“Breaking the silence can birth a champion.”
PAUL REMMER talks to us about
his survivorship,
his new
and why writing
book was a cathartic and healing experience for him.
IF YOU’VE EVER PICKED UP A WE ARE SURVIVORS LEAFLET OR POSTCARD, READ THIS MAGAZINE OR BEEN ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU’LL KNOW PAUL REMMER’S FACE VERY WELL. A few years ago, Paul took part in a photo-shoot along with some other male survivors to help us promote our work and get the message out to other male survivors about the importance of ‘breaking the silence.’
A new book, ‘Breaking The Silence: A Champions Journey’ Paul’s inspiring story. Written with his friend and ex-therapist Dave Taylor, it’s a no-holds-barred account of Paul’s struggles, but most importantly how he has emerged a stronger persona champion. Paul says, “I know it sounds awful to say that what was done to me back then has made me who I am now. If it never happened, I don’t know what kind of person I’d be now. Things happen for a reason. I’ve had battles with addictions all my life. But I get through them. The drive and determination I have in my bodybuilding has made me who I am. I’m a strong person.”
Paul came to We Are Survivors after realising he could no longer keep what had happened to himself. “I was in a real, real bad way,” he tells us. “I think I must have put a post up or something saying how down I was. Next thing I got a message on Facebook, and it’s Duncan (Craig, CEO at We Are Survivors). I must have been on the phone to him for about two hours. He was telling me how proud he was that I was coming forward. He talked me through it, and it helped get me out of this bad
HOW I BROKE MY SILENCE
So when did Paul realise he wanted to share his story in a book? “I’ve been wanting to do it for years. I started writing it about seven years ago.” After a couple of false starts, Paul turned to his ex-therapist Dave Taylor. “He’d seen that I’d gone on to win my bodybuilding shows and stuff, and he only lives half an hour away from me. He’d already had a couple of books published and I said, ‘How about you write my book from the therapy side?’ I didn’t just want it to be about me growing up. I wanted it to be about therapy I’d had.”
Revisiting the trauma during the book writing process did have an affect on Paul. “It was very hard. Dave and I were in this café, and while we were talking I was in bits, crying. But I had
I’ve had battles with addictions all my life. But I get through them. I’m a strong person. “ ”
that support there right with me while I was talking. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had bad days. Now and again, I still do get bad days. I had a blip about four or five weeks ago. I was sick of fighting it every day. But then I’m like, ‘No, this is me. Come on, pick yourself up.’”
Ultimately though, Paul’s book is a celebration of overcoming trauma and emerging a champion. The positive feedback has been inspiring. “So many people contact me to say that this has happened to them.” Paul wants guys reading his story to realise how important breaking silence - in their own time - can be. The power of talking. “It’s therapy. It’s We Are Survivors. It’s speaking to someone. Telling someone is 100% the first thing to do when you’re ready. Hopefully guys that are going through a similar experience will read my book and think, ‘You know what? What happened to me can define me, but it can define me in a really positive way.’”
A CHAMPIONS JOURNEY...
“You are somebody, and nothing can take that away from you... no amount of darkness can diminish your light.”
“For far too many years, I had been locked away in my own mind, just me and fear. It was as if I were trapped in a cage of my own making, with fear as my only companion. This fear was not something I could touch or see, but it was always there, whispering doubts and holding me back from pursuing my dreams. It took a long and arduous journey for me to understand that fear is not tangible, nor is it something that should ever keep you from striving to do what you want to do in life. Fear is a shadow, an illusion that loses its power once you confront it head-on.
My decision to relive the past and open my life up was not taken lightly. It required immense courage and a willingness to face the pain and memories I had long buried. But through this process, I discovered something profound: hope. Hope is something I never had throughout my life, but now I have it in abundance. It is a light that guides me, a beacon that reminds me that no matter how dark the past may have been, the future holds endless possibilities.
I want to share that hope with others, especially those who have yet to experience it. I want to be a source of inspiration and encouragement, to show that no matter how deep the darkness is, there is always a way out. Hope is not just a feeling; it is a force that can transform lives. It is my mission to spread this hope, to help others find their own light and to learn that they too can overcome their fears and achieve their dreams.
If my message reaches just one person and inspires them to seek help and support, then my mission is accomplished. The thought that my words could touch the heart of someone who has lost belief in themselves fills me with profound joy. To know that I could be a beacon of hope for even one soul makes every struggle worthwhile. Remember, there is no such thing as a ‘nobody.’ You are somebody, and nothing can take that away from you. Your worth is intrinsic, and no amount of darkness can diminish your light. From the deepest, most shadowy recesses of despair, I emerged as living proof that breaking the silence can birth a champion.”
‘Breaking The Silence. A Champions Journey’ is available now. Scan the QR code to buy your copy.
justice process. Survivors need to know that their choices matter.
KAELIN FLETCHER - TAYLOR Independent Sexual Violence Advisor
Consent is an everyday word, one we apply common sense to: permission, acceptance, endorsement. But it is also a legal word. The law says: “A person consents when they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.”
A client’s journey from report to court shows us that there is often a gap between those two words—the everyday meaning of consent and the legal interpretation that decides cases.
From the moment a survivor reports to the police, consent becomes complicated. School records, medical records, phone records are all requested. Survivors often give permission, but is that truly a free choice when there is an imbalance of power and fear of harming their case?
We may do well to remind ourselves that the process should not mirror the patterns of abuse by infringing upon autonomy.
Then comes cross-examination, where a survivor’s credibility is questioned and intimate details dissected publicly. Every silence, every hesitation becomes evidence. Consent can be an issue that is a barrier to resolution, because the law struggles to capture the nuances of fear, pressure, and manipulation.
A “yes” given under threat or desperation may justify a reasonable belief in consent legally, but practically, it is coercion.
And yet, consent is not fixed. Consent can be withdrawn. Survivors need to know that their choices matter - not just in the moment of harm, but throughout the justice process. That is where our role as Independent Sexual Violence Advisors comes in. Our service is about reinstating those
choices. We aim to equip survivors with the ability to make decisions that feel right for them. That may mean providing a safe space to talk to the police, requesting that all police contact comes through us, or supporting our clients in court whilst they are cross-examined.
Consent should never be reduced to a tick-box exercise. It is about autonomy, dignity, and safety. Until the justice system reflects that, ISVAs will continue to try to minimise the gap between the law’s definition of consent and a survivor’s.
How we can help
If you are considering making a report to the police, please come and have a no pressure conversation with us. We can answer any questions you may have before you decide whether the process is right for you. If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns please give us a ring on 0161 236 2182 or email us at isva@wearesurvivors.org.uk
ISVA @ WE ARE SURVIVORS
The Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service at We Are Survivors offers confidential support, information, practical and emotional support to male victim/survivors and their loved ones affected by sexual harms, regardless of when the experience(s) happened – past or present. If you want to make a referral to our ISVA service, please telephone 0161 236 2182 or email isva@wearesurvivors.org.uk. Scan the QR code to find our more.
THE ART OF CONSENT
MATT METCALFE, the OUT Spoken Service Manager at We Are Survivors tells us about the recent Consent Project which engaged survivors in prison.
A SOCIETY WHERE NO MALE SURVIVOR IS LEFT BEHIND IS THE MISSION OF OUR ORGANISATION AND EVERYTHING WE DO FOCUSES ON ACCOMPLISHING THAT MISSION.
When We Survivors turned 16 years old at the beginning of 2025, our CEO, Duncan launched the Year of Consent. He wanted to open as many conversations about consent as possible, through multiple mediums of video, art, performance and writing. And to fulfil the mission, he had a question for the OUT Spoken Therapy team: How do we engage survivors in prison in these conversations about consent?
From that question, the OUT Spoken Consent project was born. Over three months, the OUT Spoken team asked two questions to those survivors inside the 14 male prison estates in the North West:
How do you define consent? What does consent mean to you?
More than twenty survivors took part, sharing their thoughts and feelings about consent and reflected in how their consent had been taken from them. We Are Survivors strives to ensure there is accurate representation of male survivors. That there is more of it and that it is shared and felt widely. That we are leading and generating discussions
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Consent means a lot to me as someone who has survived a traumatic event... " "
that are about, for and WITH male survivors and that is what the OUT Spoken Consent project did. It gave these male survivors inside the North West Prisons a chance to be involved in conversations about consent, sharing their experiences and their understanding.
One of those who participated shared these words: “Consent means a lot to me as someone who has survived a traumatic event and I believe there should be a lot more knowledge around consent.”
Another shared “Consent means a lot to me as I hadn’t given my consent when I was in a kids home and was forced to do something I did not consent to. Consent isn’t only restricted to sexual activity, for instance I consented to do this project.”
One of our clients in one of our prisons volunteered to paint for us. So, with only a metre-by-metre canvas, some paints and a vaguely Hamilton musical poster inspired idea, those words about consent shared with those survivor’s consent became an art piece that represented their voices being heard and shared from within the walls of a system that often only offers silence. We’re proud to share the artwork in these pages...
MONDAYS
DROP IN
A safe space to connect.
HEALTH WALK
Fresh air and good company. Join us!
MANDEM MEETUP TALKING CIRCLE
A judgement free talking circle hosted by our brothers at Mandem Meetup.
TUESDAYS
WELLBEING SESSION
A weekly session in a safe space.
THE COFFEE SHOP
Let’s grab a brew and have a chat.
THE HANGOUT
A brand new group for survivors 18-35.
THE SAFE ROOM
Confidential, peer-to-peer support groups. Talk, listen and learn.
WEDNESDAYS
THE SAFE ROOM
Confidential, peer-to-peer support groups. Talk, listen and learn.
THE WRITER’S ROOM
Get creative. All abilities welcome!
THURSDAYS
THE BUILDERS YARD (LEGO)
Come and join other survivors and get building with Lego.
THE COFFEE SHOP
Let’s grab a brew and have a chat.
THE SAFE ROOM
Confidential, peer-to-peer support groups. Talk, listen and learn.
FRIDAYS
THE ART ROOM
Express yourself artistically - all abilities!
HEALTH WALK
Fresh air and good company. Join us!
THE GARDEN AT RHS
Get out of the city for a gardening session in beautiful surroundings.
SATURDAYS
(Twice a month)
THE SAFE ROOM (ONLINE)
Confidential, peer-to-peer support groups. Talk, listen and learn.
Scan the QR code to sign up for regular updates!
GALLERY
Every issue we want to celebrate the creativity of male survivors. writing can be an important part of healing. If you’d like to share your work, send them to the e-mail on page 2.
You can see lots more creativity and read some powerful words from male survivors on our website. Scan the QR code opposite to visit our online Gallery.
LAST THE
WORD
LOUD VOICES CHANGING THE CONVERSATION
IN 2026, WE ARE SURVIVORS WILL LAUNCH LOUD VOICES , an ambitious and uncompromising project designed to amplify the lived experiences of men who identify as survivors of sexual harms.
Loud Voices is about changing the narrativepublicly, powerfully, and permanently. For too long, the sexual abuse of men and boys has been ignored, misunderstood, or denied space in public conversation. Often survivors are conditioned to stay silent, sometimes believing their experiences invalidate their masculinity or that they will not be believed. Loud Voices exists because silence perpetuates the harm - and because speaking out can create hope, direction to support and help shape positive change.
WHY LOUD VOICES?
Because your story matters. Because your voice is powerful. Because your truth deserves to be heard.
Throughout 2026 and beyond, Loud Voices will be delivered through survivor led storytelling, creative expression, public engagement, and visibility campaigns. Participants will be supported to share their experiences in ways that feel right for them - whether through words, art, activism, or simply being seen. By placing lived experience at the centre, the project aims to challenge stigma, raise awareness, influence
attitudes, and help other survivors understand that they are not alone. The project is directly inspired by the Positive Speakers Project run by George House Trust, which has long proven the power of lived experience in changing hearts, educating minds, and starting conversations. Loud Voices builds on that legacy - adapting it for male survivors of sexual harms, whose voices remain under-represented and mostly unheard.
The inspiration behind Loud Voices is also deeply personal. I am Christopher Egan, Lived Experience Lead at We Are Survivors. In 2016, I reached out to We Are Survivors for support after watching men speak openly on the Victoria Derbyshire Show about being raped as teenage boys by football coaches - most notably Barry Bennell. Seeing those men speak publicly was transformational. Their courage raised awareness, confronted denial, and helped people like me realise that support exists and recovery is possible.
Loud Voices is an invitation to men aged 18+ who have experienced sexual harm and want to help reshape the narrative - for themselves, and for those still in silence. If this is you, please get in touch and drop me and email at: christopher.e@wearesurvivors.org.uk. You do not have to have directly used our services to be a part of our Loud Voices community.
Join
MAIN OFFICE
Unit 9 Brewery Yard
Deva City Office Park
Trinity Way, Salford M3 7BB
Office: 0161 236 2182
E-mail:
support@wearesurvivors.org.uk
Website: www.wearesurvivors.org.uk
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS
24/7 Support Line 0808 500 2222 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk
Shout 85258
This is as 24/7 text service that supports people if they are feeling overwhelmed or anxious.
Free and confidential.
Samaritans 116 123 (available 24 hours a day) jo@Samaritans.org.uk
Mankind 018823 334 244 (Domestic Abuse Support) Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm www.mankind.org.uk
Dad Matters 0161 344 0669 dadmatters.org.uk
Supporting Men’s Mental Wellbeing Through Community, Activity & Purpose.
info@mandemmeetup.org www.mandemmeetup.org
CHRISTOPHER EGAN Community Development Co-ordinator
