Survive

Second report in 6 weeks shows another religious institution protected perpetrators and failed to support survivors of sexual violence Faith based organisations, such as the Anglican and Catholic Church, must lead publicly in offering unstinting support to sexual abuse survivors and hold perpetrators to account. The cultural shift to uphold a duty of care in supporting sexual abuse survivors should be seen at all levels of the Catholic and Anglican Churches, according to Mags Godderidge (pictured), Chief Executive Officer of Survive, a York-based charity specialising in counselling and support work for sexual trauma survivors. This report finds that the Catholic Church repeatedly failed to support victims and survivors, while taking positive action to protect alleged perpetrators, including moving them to different parishes. In a second report on traditional churches in little over a month, it has again been highlighted that sheltering perpetrators of child sexual abuse and protecting the reputation of a Church was considered more important than protecting vulnerable children.

Students at James College, at the University of York, did not let Covid19 stop their fundraising efforts for Survive. Stride for Survive saw 132 students across 11 sports teams compete against each other to see who could run or walk the furthest distance. A total of 8501.22 kilometres was travelled over the month of July – roughly the distance from York to South Africa. We are proud to support the work of Survive which offers specialist support to those who have experienced rape, sexual assault or child sexual abuse.

Those traumatised by domestic violence will now be explicitly supported by Survive the Yorkshire charity that helps survivors of sexual trauma. Trustees, employees, and volunteers at the Survive’s virtual AGM in October 2020 voted overwhelmingly to amend their Articles to include survivors of domestic violence. By changing our Articles, we are making clear that our specialist support for survivors of rape or sexual abuse includes those, who have sadly been sexually traumatised by an intimate partner.” Also, at the AGM, Survive appointed two new trustees: Bob Morgan, a former Metropolitan Police Inspector, and Amy Bullard, who works in Three decades later, Survive now supports adults, who have experienced sexual trauma, to rebuild their lives, relationships and reach their potential.

Survive has reached its 30-year milestone and is asking friends and supporters to each donate or fundraise £30 to help them help more survivors of sexual trauma. We will use the funds raised from this special 30-year appeal to deliver more support to more survivors of sexual trauma to help them rebuild their lives, relationships and reach their potential. Three decade later and Survive now offers support to all adults who have experienced sexual trauma – including rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse as well as grooming, sexual exploitation and the coercive sexual control often present in abusive relationships. Sadly, the need for the vital support and services Survive provides to aid people on that journey is as great as it ever was – perhaps even more so in these challenging times.