Paedophile Teachers

This is a slightly expanded version of a blog I posted a year ago.

Since writing, three people have come forward with information regarding the schools listed below.

Please.. If you have any information that may be relevant get in touch and I can pass your details on to the relevant legal and law enforcement agencies that are currently involved.

Over the 6-7 years that I have been blogging I have seen, heard and read many shocking cases of abuse. What I think stuns me the most is those cases where the perpetrator is caught but the events are hushed up and the teacher is sent packing to another school. The perpetrator then starts their little "games" again and more innocent lives are destroyed. Why? To save the blushes of those in charge and to avoid a public scandal..

The people who allow this to happen may as well be abusers themselves. They have no interest in protecting children and care only about themselves and their reputations.

I have seen this in all forms of schools, public, private, primary and secondary.

PERHAPS there is more awareness today and PERHAPS this does not happen anymore. There is no guarantee however.

What breaks me heart is hearing a survivor of such abuse state something like "If I had spoken up then maybe other children would have been spared" etc. Blaming yourself for not speaking up is exactly what the perpetrator hopes for. They feel invincible because who would believe a child over an adult..

I have also read cases where the powers that be have blamed the children for sexualising the adult!

If you have been affected by abuse in your school please speak out. Name and shame those involved, the school and the local authority.

I am very interested in hearing from anyone who suffered abuse whilst in the following schools during the late 60s through to the early 80s.

Bengeo Primary School - Hertfordshire

Longlands Primary School - Hertfordshire

King College Choir School - Cambridge

Further reading:-

A secret history of child abuse

Abuse in Britains boarding schools

Sexual abuse in schools

Possible Signs of Unresolved Trauma #trauma

What is trauma? When most people think of trauma, they think of things like natural disasters, witnessing or experiencing violence, or the experiences of soldiers in combat, and they would certainly be right. However, trauma can also occur from less obvious experiences, such as bullying, growing up in a dysfunctional home, negative experiences at school, or other experiences that we deem “part of the human experience”.  One of the leading experts in the field of trauma, Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk, defines trauma as being any event in which the central nervous system is overwhelmed, and we are unable to integrate or process what is happening. Unresolved trauma changes both the way we remember and react to events in our lives. When trauma occurs during our childhood, it can greatly affect our development in ways that as adults we are often not even aware of.

Just because someone who suffered trauma blocks out (consciously or unconsciously) what has happened, it doesn’t mean that he or she won’t feel the effects from it.

Peter A. Levine, Ph.D., who has treated and researched trauma for over 45 years, says,

"The effects of unresolved trauma can be devastating. It can affect our habits and outlook on life, leading to addictions and poor decision-making. It can take a toll on our family life and interpersonal relationships. It can trigger real physical pain, symptoms, and disease. And it can lead to a range of self destructive behaviors."

People may enter therapy aware of some of the following symptoms, but they may not realise these complications are suggestive of unresolved trauma issues:

1.  Addictive behaviors – excessively turning to drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping, gambling as a way to push difficult emotions and upsetting trauma content further away.

2. An inability to tolerate conflicts with others – having a fear of conflict, running from conflict, avoiding conflict, maintaining skewed perceptions of conflict.

3. An inability to tolerate intense feelings, preferring to avoid feeling by any number of ways.

4. An innate belief that they are bad, worthless, without value or importance.

5. Black and white thinking, all or nothing thinking, even if this approach ends up harming themselves.

6. Chronic and repeated suicidal thoughts and feelings.

7. Disorganized attachment patterns – having a variety of short but intense relationships, refusing to have any relationships, dysfunctional relationships, frequent love/hate relationships.

8. Dissociation, spacing out, losing time, missing time, feeling like you are two completely different people (or more than two).

9.  Eating disorders – anorexia, bulimia, obesity, etc.

10. Excessive sense of self-blame – taking on inappropriate responsibility as if everything is their fault, making excessive apologies.

11. Inappropriate attachments to mother figures or father figures, even with dysfunctional or unhealthy people.

12.   Intense anxiety and repeated panic attacks.

13. Intrusive thoughts, upsetting visual images, flashbacks, body memories / unexplained body pain, or distressing nightmares.

14.   Ongoing, chronic depression.

15.   Repeatedly acting from a victim role in current day relationships.

16.   Repeatedly taking on the rescuer role, even when inappropriate to do so.

17.   Self-harm, self-mutilation, self-injury, self-destruction.

18. Suicidal actions and behaviors, failed attempts to suicide.

19. Taking the perpetrator role / angry aggressor in relationships.

20. Unexplained but intense fears of people, places, things.

Grief: Understanding The Process #grief #loss #pain

This is a topic very close to my heart. I started losing loved ones when I was nine years old (My Mother). I wasn't offered any help or counselling. 10 years later I lost my father too. Again, no support.

Since then I have lost my grandparents (one wasn't actually a loss), and in recent years my only full sibling

Two months ago I lost my spouse. We were "estranged" for want of a better word but that didn't stop us being the very best of friends.

Grief is cruel. I hope this article might help others.

Source

Grief will make a new person out of you, if it doesn't kill you in the making.  ~ Stephanie Ericsson

Few of us are prepared to face the excruciating pain associated with the death of a loved one. We think we cannot bear it, that to feel such sorrow is abnormal, as if we're going mad. Yet loss is a natural part of life's cycle of growth, decay and rebirth. We know that when someone dearly loved is lost, certain feelings and reactions will be experienced by most people. Still, there is no rule book that works for everyone, because how we experience grief ~ and for how long ~ is uniquely personal and distinct.Finding your way through grief successfully requires some knowledge and understanding of the grief process, and a willingness to do the work of mourning.

Grief is a normal yet highly personal response to loss. Neither an illness nor a pathological condition, it is a natural process that, depending on how it is managed and understood, can lead to healing and personal growth.

Not all losses are related to death, and not all grief reactions stem from the death of a loved one. Grief can be felt in anticipation of a loss, as you mourn all the secondary losses experienced in the course of an illness. Life transitions ~ even joyful ones ~ entail loss and can engender grief. Significant, life-changing events can shatter our assumption that we are safe in this world. Still other losses are ambiguous ones, in that the actual loss may not be evident or clear (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, addiction, incarceration, soldiers missing in action). Losses can be tangible (readily apparent and obvious), or intangible and more symbolic in nature. 

Grief is extremely powerful. It can catch you totally unprepared, knock you off balance and shake you to the core. It can be painful beyond words — physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually — and it can change your life completely. Grief serves to remind you how fragile life is and how vulnerable you are to loss. It can make your present life seem meaningless, and take away your hope for the future.

Understanding the process and knowing what to expect can help you cope. Your pattern of progressing through your grief will be uneven, unpredictable and unique, with no specific time frame. But the more you learn about grief, the better you can cope with it. In the beginning it will seem as if your grief is running you, but in the end, you can learn to run your grief. When you understand what is happening to you and have some idea of what to expect, you will feel more in control of your grief and will be in a better position to take care of yourself, to find your own way through this loss and to begin rebuilding your life.

The worst kind of grief is the grief you’re experiencing now. Don’t compare your grief with anyone else’s, and know that, at this moment, your loss is the worst thing that could happen to anyone. Acknowledge that your loss is worthy of grief, and accept that you must endure the very real feelings of sorrow.

Grief work is very hard and takes enormous energy. Much as you may want to do so, there is no way to avoid this grief of yours. You cannot wait it out; you won’t get over it quickly, and nobody can do it for you. It’s called grief work because finding your way through grief is hard work, and if you put it off, like a messy chore it will sit there waiting to be done. And the longer it waits, the harder it becomes.

Effective mourning is not done alone. Unfortunately, friends and family members may be finished with your grief long before you are finished with your need to talk about it, and unexpressed feelings can become distorted. It is important that you find an understanding, nonjudgmental listener with whom you can openly acknowledge your feelings and experiences, express and work through your pain, and come to terms with your loss. If friends and family aren’t as available as you need them to be, or if your need exceeds their capacity to help, consider attending a support group or seeking help from a bereavement counselor.

How grief is expressed varies among individuals. Everyone grieves differently, according to their age, gender, personality, culture, value system, past experience with loss, and available support. Grieving differs among members of the same family, as each person’s relationship with and attachment to the deceased family member varies. How you will react to this death depends on how you’ve responded to other crises in your life; on what was lost when this death happened (not only the life of the person who died, but certain aspects of your own life as well: your way of life; who you were in your relationship with that person and who you planned to be; your hopes and dreams for the future); on who died (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, relative, friend or other; how you lived together and what that person meant to you); on the person’s role in your family; on when the death occurred (at what point in the life cycle: yours as well as that of the person who died); and on how (the circumstances surrounding the death, and how the death occurred).

Certain manifestations of grief are typical, common and normal. Although grief is as individual as you are, some feelings and reactions are universal. Their intensity will vary, and they’ll happen in no particular order. You may experience all, some or none of them; they may happen only once or many times, sometimes several years after your loved one’s death. Respect your own feelings and reactions. Take time to look, listen, experience and understand them. They are nature’s way of getting your attention.

Grief is a lifelong process. While the agonizing pain of loss diminishes in intensity over time, it’s never gone completely. It is absolutely normal to feel the aftershock of loss for the rest of your life. Grieving is not a reaction to a single event, like an illness that can be cured and from which you will recover. It’s more like a deep wound that eventually heals and closes, but whose terrible scar remains and still can hurt at times. Sometimes the loss itself is ongoing, since its source is irreversible and continues to be present throughout your life, with no forseeable end. (Examples include intellectual and developmental disabilities; chronic, degenerative conditions; lifelong mental health issues; infertility and involuntary childlessness; loss of vocation, calling or faith; and irreversible loss of functionality.)

Death may have ended your loved one’s life, but it did not end your relationship. The bond you have will continue and endure throughout your lifetime, depending on how you take your memories and your past with you into the future. Many grievers report maintaining an active connection with their deceased loved ones by talking to them, dreaming about them, sensing their presence or feeling watched over and protected by them. It is normal and healthy to foster these continuing bonds, as you decide how your loved one will be remembered, memorialized and included in your family and community life.

Time does not heal grief. Time is neutral. It is not the passage of time alone that heals. It is what you do with time that matters. Now that this death has happened to you, you must decide what you can do with your grief. Grieving is an active process, not a passive one, and recovery is a choice. Coping with grief involves many courses of action, and as you find your way through this journey, you will learn how to use this grieving time to help you heal yourself.

There is no right or wrong way to do the work of grieving. There is only your way, and you must discover it for yourself. There is no magic formula, no short cut, and no easy way out. Grief is like a long, winding tunnel whose entrance is closed behind you, and the only way out is through.

Q & A with @DavidLeanLeano #PurpleFriday #CSASurvivors #ChildAbuse

David Lean is a proud ambassador for Voicing CSA and works tirelessly to bring awareness on the subject of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.  As a victim himself, Voicing CSA (on twitter as @Voicing_csa ) helped David to find his own voice.

I got to know David through Twitter and his work spreading knowledge and trying to get the subjects of CSA and CSE trending in order to raise a more far reaching awareness of these often taboo subjects. He is a truly inspirational man.

Please help us spread the word and let's turn Twitter Purple on September 15th!

1 - What is #PurpleFriday?

#purplefriday is a very simple campaign I have created to raise huge awareness of both CSA & CSE by bringing everyone together on the same day. This is not about Charities or Survivor Groups. It is not even about Survivors, its about everyone young or old, men and women coming together and raising the unspoken subject in all walks of life for just one day. On Friday September 15th I want as many people as possible Worldwide to join us and wear purple items all day as they go about there life. As much or as little as they feel comfortable with. Hopefully this may get people in all walks of life asking about there purple items they are wearing and why!  I would like everyone to post on all social media sites, photos of them wearing the purple items or just anything purple and turn social media purple for the day !! 

Using #purplefriday we will also attempt to trend between 8pm-10pm that evening. Its free, easy to join in and will raise massive awareness if we all join in !  These issues are happening massively on a Worldwide scale !! With one voice we can raise awareness together !

2 - What are your thoughts as to current UK attitudes towards child abuse in the media?

The UK media has improved over the last year and shows much more attention to Both CSA (Childhood Sexual Abuse) and CSE (Childhood Sexual Exploitation) for which Survivors are grateful but it is still nowhere near enough !  Much more can be done and it needs to hit all markets not just the news!  Programmes aimed at younger children also need to be looked at.

3 - Do you think that the "authorities" are doing enough to raise awareness?

Authorities are not doing enough. They are often much of the problem. Some appear to be doing a good job others are not !  Consistency in all areas when dealing with both CSA & CSE is so important. Best practice needs to be used across the Country. Once again we can always do much more and not close our eyes !

4 - With regards abuse in sports, do you think the various sports bodies are doing enough to expose and prevent abuse?

Abuse in Sport is being looked at by many National Governing Bodies at this time. We will see how things pan out in football which is leading on the inquest at the moment. Again while coaches in many sports operate without much if any supervision and without National guidance and Support in many cases Child Abuse will continue to go on in Sport as in all walks of life. It has shown its ugly head in so many different sports and is happening today so all NGBs need to look at how this can be improved. Mandatory reporting is being looked at by many at this time.

5 - Are social media "giants" like Twitter and Facebook doing enough to fight child abuse?

 I believe Social media certain help and can allow us to raise awareness through our tweets/posts etc. We are allowed to put detail into our posts again this helps. Local and National support is also easy to access contact details etc through social media for Survivors and many strong friendships grow through social media.

6 - What have your experiences with social media been like? I understand you have been blocked from tweeting etc.

 I am unsure of exact details on how twitter works but we strongly believe that on a couple of campaigns we have driven to trend #CSASurvivors on twitter that we have been stopped from trending ? I have also had my account stopped 3 times during these periods for over 90 minutes ? I only hope this is not being driven by someone at twitter ?

7 - Do you think that the media coverage of high profile chld abuse cases helps or hinders those who have suffered from familial abuse?

 High profile cases and media coverage is so needed!  I understand its a difficult watch for many and some Survivors find it difficult also but it has to be done! We must show cases on very occasion to drive this out of the dark ages and into the light !  CSA & CSE must become a subject that is spoken about and we must no longer hide this ! Children of the future will be ruined if this continues to happen!  It has already been proven there is a huge percentage of people in prison who have suffered some sort of abuse as a child !  The links are there we need to open our eyes and stop this!

8 - What changes would you like to see in how child abuse victims are treated?

So many changes need to happen in the justice system !   Investigations need to be speeded up in all aspects of CSA & CSE !  Once you disclose to the police,cases can take years to actually get to court !  It can take 12 months just to get a Crown Court date!  The best practise and consistency across the way Survivors are dealt with NEEDS to come in ASAP ! So many people have had bad experiences in the way they have been treated by both police and CPS and also within the Courts! 

I have also heard stories of people who have been treated well, believed from day one and treated with respect and compassion this needs to be the case every time. 

Sentencing laws need to change and be used. Its no good allowing Sentencing laws to be increased if judges don't use the maximums allowed to them !  The effects of CSA & CSE are massive and yet in many cases sentences such as 1 or 2 years are handed down!

In many cases No conviction is even handed down?  We need to encourage ALL survivors forward and you already have to go through reliving the events ! Interview after interview , then await CPS decision then wait another year for Court dates if you even get as far as cour !  For in many cases No conviction or a very small sentence given for Abuse towards a child ! How can this be right? 

We also need to stop allowing these monsters the right to change there verdict on the day for a reduced sentence!  

9 - Do you feel there is enough professional, specialised help available for male survivors?

 I was lucky and received counselling within a month of me disclosing to police through some funding available at that time. This area is a must for everyone who needs it after disclosure and must be compulsory all over the Country !  Not enough services or support are available at this time. Many Survivor groups offer support to the best of there ability but much more needs to be done as so many are not supported!

10 - Are male victims of sexual abuse under more pressure to remain silent than female victims?

I believe men find it much more difficult to disclose than women and yes I believe they are under more pressure to remain silent. It is a hugely difficult for everyone but I believe it is often around 20 years longer for men to disclose than women. Something that I and many other men are working hard to change.

North Carolina SOL Reform NC HB585 via @KezStarbuck

On April 6, 2017, the North Carolina House of Representatives introduced an historic bill designed to reform the statute of limitations,  changing the existing law to provide survivors of child sexual abuse a revised legal mechanism to bring civil action for damages. Like all proposed legislation, the bill was "read" three times and then voted on by a caucus of House members, passing overwhelmingly, 112 yea, to only 3 nays. No doubt a very encouraging vote in favor of changing a law that has prevented survivors of child sexual abuse from finally holding those responsible for the devastating and debilitating damages typical of such heinous acts. 

However, it's not time to celebrate—yet. The North Carolina Senate has to vote in favor of this legislative reform, before it will become law.

NC HB585 was successfully and enthusiastically endorsed by the NC House of Representatives, who have recently been embroiled in battle over what will surely prove historically controversial decisions regarding the treatment of young people, victims of harassment and NC state laws dealing with designating bathroom assignment for transgendered individuals. 

After the established confidence from the House side, NC HB585 was sent over to the Senate with great momentum. Alas, because of the annual cutoff deadline for getting new bills into the cue, and assuring a bill will receive a vote during the current session, HB585 became somewhat submerged beneath the chaos, likely placing it out of "sight and mind" while were deeply engrossed in an effort to get their bills over to the respective "other side" before the annual deadline would disqualify them until they can resubmit next session. Fortunately, HB585 successfully made the "crossover" deadline, and has since been patiently awaiting the early fall return of the Senate to finish the job.

The good news is the North Carolina Senate has now returned, is "in the saddle" as of August 3, 2017 and on the roster to be assigned to committee for reading and a vote.

This where your critical help is needed. Bills like NC HB585 usually get quite a bit of media coverage as well as lobbyist attention. In our society it's a certainty bills dealing with sexual assault and justice are simply controversial. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, the largest and most powerful lobbyists who vigorously oppose laws like this—predictably fight "tooth and nail" to prevent such legislation from passing to become law. I honestly find it quite disturbing, the incredible lengths to which the Catholic church will go, in an attempt to avoid culpability and the morally and civic responsibility to compensate survivors of rape and the sexual assault of innocent children by their priests. 

HB585, as far as I can tell, has not been targeted by the Conference of Catholic Bishops to-date, however the Boy Scouts of America are making a concerted effort to convince some NC Senators to reject this bill. 

In a nutshell, when made into law, HB585 will allow survivors to seek damages, including access to treatment and a chance of survival after enduring decades of suffering, poverty, mental and psychological illness and, in many cases, a total inability to function. 

Lives will be saved by passing NC HB585 into law, just as similar laws have done for survivors in many states across the country, reviving archaic legislation established long before the research findings shedding light on the often crippling and long-lasting affects from child sexual abuse. 

The Department of Justice's project, "Changing Minds Now," (www.changingmindsnow.org), published research findings summarizing comprehensive evidence of neurological damage to the delicate and vulnerable brains of young children exposed to trauma such as violence, abuse and crimes like child sexual abuse. This conclusive evidence illuminates and instructs how traumas like child sexual abuse causes lasting damage to the plastic and developing brains of young victims. Early interventional treatment  has been found to be a key factor in mitigating potentially devastating developmental impact,  affecting the future lives of survivors in devastating ways.

North Carolina HB585 proposes a reform to the long-standing laws that continue to bar CSA survivors from bringing civil action and settlement for damages resulting to the atrocious trauma sustained by victims of sexual assault as children. Like so many states, the current NC law limits the window of time during which survivors can bring a civil lawsuit to 21 years of age. This  provision has proven to be extremely unrealistic, resulting—as statistics inform—in  survivors often never stepping forward to disclose what happened, much less seek legal remedy.

Year after year, statistics show that only a small percentage of child sexual assault victims will step forward to bring criminal or civil charges, or at the very least simply make the declaration for their own purpose. When and if they do, the majority generally won't even do so until they are well into adulthood. By then, the psychological damage and impact has very likely manifested in a manner that effectively becomes life-halting. Symptoms of submerged psychological trauma and neuro-palthways damage that can simply no longer overlooked. Ar sime point survivors of child sexual abuse find themselves so overwhelmed by dysfunction, that the search for causation becomes a matter of solving, for many, seems a fundamental existential puppeteer.  Multiple psychiatric diagnoses and subsequent hospitalizations are likely to have already taken place by this juncture. There are myriad reasons why survivors don't seek justice, or avoid telling ANYONE about this history until mid-to-late adulthood. The most common reasons are actually quite simple, despite what is apparently vastly mysterious and confounding to many critics. A great majority of victims of child sexual assault  keep the facts secret because of an overwhelming sense of shame, and a suffocating   fear of being blamed, accused of lying or fabricating their story. Another significant disincentive to disclose their story is the likelihood of a lengthy process of litigation and discovery, which inevitably involves extremely painful emotions and frankly inevitable revictimization.

I have experienced all of these 

facets of emotion and circumstances personally, and despite my determination and efforts, both the civil and criminal cases I initiated were also ultimately dismissed after five years. More pain, trauma and the stark reality that settles in once the lawyers have dispersed and there you stand is solitary silence. You can't believe that you lost the legal right to compensation for being the sexual child victim of an adult who was morally bankrupt, admitted their guilt and one of the oldest, wealthiest and largest religious organizations in the universe not only refuses to apologize but is now legally allowed to turn their back on you. The Catholic church. Christians.

And boy do they ever turn their back on you, as if ordained by god himself.

The criminal case ended because the defendant developed symptoms of dementia causing the judge to rule a dismissal due to his "inability to participate in legal proceedings." The civil case was dismissed by grant of "Summary Judgement," based on the current NC Statute of Limitations. Both decisions were rendered in August of 2015. Of interesting note,  I learned the criminal case was the oldest "on the books" when it was dismissed. The defendant chronically claimed health restrictions and ambulatory problems to evade court appearances, while at the same time I've documented him enjoying numerous visits (out for lunch on the town) hosted by some of his 1,300 Facebook supporters. They posted photos of these social events and shared the "good cheer" postings from the online forum. He never told them he confessed the day he was arrested. 

The Charlotte Diocese of North Carolina knew about the priest's confession, never informing their constituency, and knowingly allowing thousands of supporters to engage in a lengthy defamation effort against me online lasting two years. During the lengthy litigating period, the defendant claimed he was unwell and homebound, evidence of the dedication to defiance of justice and moral obligation by the Catholic Church. 

You might be interested to know, after the case rulings, I've contacted them repeatedly to demand an apology for the assaults to which their priest readily confessed. I've yet to receive any response.

To read the actual language contained in the proposed HB585 legislation, already passed in the NC House of Representatives in April, please go tohttp://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/billlookup/billlookup.pl?Session=2017&BillID=H585 .

Any survivor who's had to cope with the affects of trauma will likely find the results of the research by Changing Minds Now, at the very least, very informative and instructive. And at best, perhaps find some empowerment learning that physiological changes may be at the root of the struggle they've endured. I hope survivors of the horrible trauma of child sexual abuse can one day benefit from improved treatment, refined by the insights and results from integrating findings from this research. The opportunity to develop related treatment solutions can legitimately translate into improving lives and restoring functionality for survivors who otherwise, honestly, don't have many meaningful options available. 

You can actually help get NC HB585 legislation passed, and help to empower survivors to pursue justice after a lifetime of enduring the horrible, devastating symptoms so often resulting from the horrific damages of child sexual abuse. Below you'll find an email address, to which if you send an email (You MUST include "HB585" in the subect), you'll receive a response containing a list of email addresses, names and phone numbers for every North Carolina Senator. Additionally, a copy of the current HB585 language with links to resources related to this process and the NC General Assembly, will be included. Then, you can contact them and tell them how incredibly important it is to protect children and survivors by voting YES on North Carolina HB585.

This law belongs to the survivors of child sexual assault everywhere, Americans and residents of the great state of North Carolina. It belongs to us because we've proven that our Constitution guarantees American citizens have a unique power to change laws in this country, and we will not stand for the systematic destruction of the lives of innocent children. Period.

The following URL links to a victim's statement.

https://youtu.be/aSzPCXjGPWw

Please view the video and call NC Senators to urge them to vote in favor of NC HB585. The House of Representatives introduced the bill on April 5, 2017 and by April 17 they secured a passing vote  - 112 Yea to 3 Nay - with no changes be administrative.

This bill will continue the fight to secure the safety and security of innocent children, helping to protect them from the trauma of child sexual assault, and help protect the survivors as they endeavor to live their lives and overcome such catastrophic trauma.

​For more information and details, 

​simply email a request to NCH5852017@gmail.com​

Thank you for reading.

All you need is LOVE by @survivorsburg #loveisall

Another gem from my very good friend May Thomson.

May has helped me through some very rough times and I can safely say I would not be here today if not for her kindness and strength of character. She is a true superstar.

Before I got sick

In my last job, before I got sick, I was a steward/security officer and stewarded rugby matches, football matches, security of property etc and some big gigs all over Britain.

I have met a lot of people from all over the world, folk like myself, others rich and famous, all walks of life including two royal gigs at Edinburgh and London - amazing experiences all of them!

One constant I always had in my work life, no matter if you the boss or my colleagues customers, all get treated the same and it applies to the rule set too:- i.e rules for each gig different e.g doing stage door if no pass I not care who you say you are not getting in, ask the drummer of Status Quo!Rick Parfitt had to come to his rescue at usher hall lol lol.

I was not superviser management, just a steward or so I thought.

Sadly we had a family loss and I was off work quite a while with the adjustments etc. On my return to one of regular football venues I had the most uplifting joyous experiences I could ever wish for.

A young supporter of the team I was stewarding for, his grandfather and his dad, wow he was a short little boy. I thought he was about 7 yrs old but then discovered he was 11. In my first week back at work this little boys granddad spotted me first he nudged his grandson gesturing to look up which this little boy did his face lit up with such joy let go his granddads hand and came running to me saying "your back!your back! I am so glad your back!" ( choke) with a huge hug.

Before this I had spoken to little boy a couple of times and knew his granddad brought him in as his dad not in till later as he was a landlord.
I asked the little chap why are you so happy that I am back? He said "Because I like you! You are always nice and you smile at me when I come in", wow that blew me away.

Till that day I thought I was just an average steward but that taught me so much. Yes I was one small part of a very large team but even my small contribution of carrying out my job correctly for the company I worked for to the best of my abitlies made an impact to the customers I served too.

This venue was also where young fans copied heroes,  national football star putting feet on back of seats etc. The Scotland team got told same as the supporters coming down. One little boy said "Do you know who you just told off misses?" No, I replied.  He said the players name and that he was a Scotland player. I told him yes well he's no different to you in these seats! So he gets told off too!! He thought I was so cool he really made me smile.

These interactions help build who you are today. Everyone I meet I respect and love till they prove themselves unworthy of it, and that applies to everyone. If it's in an official capacity I abide by the rules and I don't change.

I am no longer able to be employed but that does not mean I don't work. I just work differently and I don't get paid for my work.

Yes I write poetry which I hope helps others on difficult days etc or to say thank you for what others have done for me.
Behind the scenes I talk to people because I have crazy view points on lots of things that others find funny and helpful dealing with their issues etc, or to try to bring balance to issues etc.

But, even for me, life lately has been very challenging - from being taken seriously ill (life threatening), to humiliation, to husband having accident, to bad customer services which left someone normally so positive as me feeling useless and worthless i.e on benefits with finances not stretching enough etc etc.

I am not useless or worthless.

I am a unwell, loving, caring human being who has feelings and emotions.

I am really fed up that people like me become the enemy because of mainstream media and political agenda.

My accident happened at end of my working shift.

In our situation one emergency can take 6 to 12 weeks to recover from financially. We have to take a deep breath and start long slog back again.

The media portrays us as scroungers, lazy good for nothing individuals. I am not saying that some are like that but most of us were hard working people before our circumstances changed.

I don't claim for anything extra i.e fuel costs, hospital travel, car tax etc etc. What we get pays everything we can off. Our car? Well that is required not a luxury as my mobility is very poor and my husband visits his ill mum every 2nd week and is on emergency standby 24/7. We are not the type of people to claim and get everything we can. We claim and take only what we need. The basics.

The "work" I do now would not be possible if I was still able to work full time because what I do can be called for anytime night or day.

Unlike medical professionals, I don't have time limits.. If it takes 10/15 minute or 4/5 hours of talking to someone to help them through then that's what happens.

I don't have all the answers to every question because my knowledge is based only on my own experiences,

Even more so since my accident and losing my job. I thought my life was over.. I thought "what can I do now?" luckily in 2008 I discovered poetry which was to become my new path.

Most of my "work" i.e poetry, talking to others, sharing my own story etc is how I help and give to society today.

A few years ago I was called "Benefit Scum". At the time it really hurt and enraged all the normal feeling of a loving, caring human being, and felt like being kicked in the teeth.

But it did make me look more closely at myself. Firstly were they right? After much thought the answer was No, I do not take take take and give nothing back.

I have offered talks to medical students, law students, police trainee’s etc. The fact they choose not to take me up on my offer is their loss sadly.

At 55 yrs old and unwell I would see myself as useless and  worthless because I am at the moment unable to make my own living.

Well nothing could be further from the truth! I have purpose! I have hope! and... I have a dream!

All of thid because I have the most valuable ingredient of all..

I have LOVE.

May Thomson 2017

Aka Survivorsburg

Inner Child via @SurvivorsBurg #stopchildabuse

What can I say about my guest blogger this week..

May Thomson is most certainly one of a kind. She has battled and overcome so very much. What makes her stand out is her humour and quick wit, combined with compassion and empathy. She is simply amazing. I have known her now for six years and my life is a better place for having her in it. Thank you May, my wee Scottish Thistle xx

Inner Child


The last 11 years have had to do a lot of work on my inner child to help keep me to my normal, sadly I find most survivors still hate their inner child. “Yes it has even recovered” taken me over ten years to love my own,

I read an article on a journalist interviewing old male survivors in Ireland and most prominent thing he saw was men turning back to boys as they told their own stories, I think this field of any survivor needs lot more work and could help recover the survivor quicker it is also mostly the part deepest buried and neglected even by survivors themselves

When I was unwell I always felt trapped and could not escape thought I never would and why I tried killing myself so many times to escape it,
That is one of the major keys that gets over looked most survivors are trapped in childhood some adapt,  others addiction, crime, mental illness,ect ect ect,

The first time one of my abusers who was arrested my Father:
No protection laws in the 70’s so his name in papers, (School life became such a joy NOT), no counselling for individuals or family, occasional visit from a social worker,
A mother who was also toxic verbally and physically abusive to her children and not coping with 5 now dysfunctional children,
Today all 5 of us 4 unrecovered and struggle everyday and me recovered 11yr, I would give everyone of siblings what I have but sadly mother and fathers legacy left Dysfunctional Family most don't speak to each other not all but most.

Then two 1/2 sisters  once again the mother not change so now 2 more,
So 7 children 6 struggling with their lives in some way,
Sadly for me most don't talk to me especially but I remember the essences of who they were when we were brother and sisters together for each other because that all we had each other,
Once again unwell I hated them as much as they hate me,after recovery no it breaks my heart, I cant help them I can't tell them about the recovery and the insight it gives you to what actually happened to us to point of waring not talking ect ect ,
Our mother 17 yrs dead I have tried continually to build bridges with my siblings who don't talk, and will till day I Die not their fault but our abusers and toxic parenting that caused us to be like they are, I was.

Filled with hate guilt ect ect 1thing I can see don't think they can when we were all together the common enemy was our Father, as his children we loved him we were told to,  but we also hated him with a great passion his cruelty his abuse,

But once the enemy is removed what then? That's were I fit in I became the enemy police interviewed me first and after our father was arrested anything went wrong in family my fault,
But remember I am only aged 9-11yrs old myself at this time of pure turmoil,

I can tell you now if you asked all 7 of us same questions about our fathers and mother yes similarities but each different,
As we all see circumstances differently, but each their own truth of how they either saw it or felt at that time in our lives,

My family lived in England at this time for me I only wanted to go home,go home tae Ma Bonnie Scotland and I did not care how I got it I did not enjoy living in England my heart my soul was always in Scotland,

My uncle started taken me on holidays home to Scotland and eventually I moved in with him, most would think idyllic sadly not he became my last abuser,
Until I was aged 23yrs  when I finally got out and stayed out,

Today as I write this I was asked a Question long time since I was last asked but so fitting for the article on Childhood memories no one can erase,
Why don't you just forget about your past and move on,
Normally the question itself would infuriate me, this time I challenged it,
I will never forget my past but I don't live there anymore, I live today and use my past to help others or inform others,

Forget my past no because I deny a very important part of what shaped me good or bad it has helped me become who I am today, and today I am very proud of what I have overcame to become who I am.

A Scottish poetess a recovered survivor who everyday puts Love into the world instead of anger hatred and pain, I went through that so I could truly love again starting with myself because if you don't love any part of you is when difficulty in dealing with life starts,
Lot of my knowledge especially in retrieving your inner child has only came last 11years since I found the recovery from the after effects of my abuse,
And been my key to so much insight and as I have said previously does not make immune to emotional crashes from my past just deal and cope with them differently today a more balanced approach to daily problems, some that can trigger wanted or unwanted memories of our childhood.

Most of my life I hated the little girl in me, she was sad pathetic helpless person,
When in reality she was such a strong little girl, living most of her life pillar to post between parents and relatives,
No stability in this little girls life even at home fights beating abuse even starvation at times,

So she shut down today best we estimate about 5/6 yrs old, and the 48 year battle to bring her back to life again.
The journey to helping and recovering my inner child started over 10 yrs ago after the recovery, bit by bit memories finally sorted and layed to rest, feelings emotions bit by bit needed sorted out, the hardest part was judging my inner child with who I am today the experience ect each time I tackled my inner child, we forget as children we did not have same knowledge skills ect that we judge our inner child with today,
Which then means giving ourselves a very hard time for what we didn't do to stop it ect,
Today also the grooming side of abuse is more recognised which wasn't back in my earlier life,
How my uncle became my last abuser groomed me for 2 yrs before going to live with him,

Many ask why didn't I just go back to my mum and family I tried that twice last time was told go back to Scotland you are no longer part of this family,
It destroyed me at the time the final betrayal I only had my uncle or so it seemed to me at the time.
I felt useless worthless unloved and the spiral towards mental illness set in,
From 14 yrs old I was on a mission to end my life most serious attempt 21yrs old,
Luckily I survived yet again.

Today I love and care for my inner child I hug her everyday,I tell her I love her how beautiful she is everything a mothers love should give her daughter,
I now give to myself, I am not a parent that does not mean I don't know how to parent,
So I parent that little girl yes she still get frighten scared ect so I comfort her,
Because that little girl inside my rock she strong talented and very loving and has a zest for life that's boundless.
Mostly today she is also happy little girl and it shines out the adult I have became.

We cannot change our pasts but we can heal the pain within by lovingly parenting ourselves first.

If we want a world of peace it starts with the children today, simple example: how many parents smack their children? this is the child's first teaching probably of violence towards them parent can't cope so smacks child,
And rather than face and feel the violence the child will shut off or worse shut down,

Prior to recovery I could not rescue her I could not cope or deal with her demands, always wanting attention ect ect but in my head was driving me crazy mostly because I did not understand myself her or our needs at the time.

Website - http://www.survivorsburg2006.com/

Twitter - @Survivorsburg

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/survivorsburg/ 

Phoenix Warriors - Beyond The Ashes of Childhood Sexual Abuse with @26PeacockLady

"Phoenix Warriors - Beyond The Ashes of Childhood Sexual Abuse"

Donna Bailey and Ján L Frayne met online in the early part of 2012.

After much discussion they decided there was need for a book that addressed the issues of childhood sexual abuse from a new angle. 

They decided to collaborate on a book which would reflect gender perspectives and international perspectives as well as a more natural approach to healing and living with the aftermath of abuse.  The book crosses boundaries that others do not and helps the reader understand why they feel as they do and how to improve all aspects of their life post abuse.

Through their  personal experiences and through trying to find materials for themselves, they found that there is not enough content out there and would like to change that.

Both have had many experiences which hold opportunities for learning and growth, and in passing on this knowledge their hope is to reach out to and help many others through their own healing journeys.

This is their story. They will share their experiences with difficult topics and concepts that are often hard to understand and share what worked for them.  

Healing should be a very personal experience, not everyone is the same or reacts to the same stimuli in the same way. This book is not intended as a “do as we say”,  more “do what feels right for you”… 

Expect the new book during Summer 2022!