How high-profile disclosures of abuse help others seek help
In 2016 former footballer Andy Woodward waived his anonymity and spoke publicly about his non-recent child sex abuse by the former football coach Barry Bennell.
His brave disclosure triggered an extraordinary response with hundreds of other survivors of non-recent abuse coming forward to disclose their own abuse by Bennell and other football coaches.
In the last couple of weeks, footballer Andy Carroll revealed in his biography that he was sexually assaulted in 2021. He subsequently gave evidence at a criminal trial to help convict his abuser.
I notice that Safeline UK, whom we enjoy a sponsored partnership with, then confirmed that almost immediately they had experienced an increase in calls to their dedicated national male survivor helpline and online service (www.safeline.org.uk/men) from people seeking support.
When sportsmen like Andy Carroll and Andy Woodward publicly disclose their own abuse and the impact it has had on them, it cuts through the substantial stigma, guilt, embarrassment and humiliation all of which it is recognised tend to impede survivors from coming forward and reporting their assaults. It helps create the conditions for men to break what is often decades of silence.
As illustrated by the report from Safeline UK, the media attention that follows high profile disclosures help create pathways for many others to find their confidence to seek support, report their abuse to the authorities or to begin to process their own trauma.
A decision to disclose sexual abuse whether publicly or privately to a trusted person or professional is always the survivor’s own decision.
For some, making a claim may be the means of securing access to justice and seeking accountability for those responsible.
At Jordans Solicitors, we recognise how difficult this can be and attempt to make it as easy as possible for a victim or survivor to contact us to obtain some free preliminary advice about their abuse and a possible claim. We can be contacted by telephone on a free phone number and you can speak to one of our highly specialised lawyers. However, for those that might find it difficult to discuss the abuse with someone immediately we can also be contacted by email or on our LiveChat platform.
Any enquiry is dealt with by our dedicated team who have a good understanding of the impact of abuse and are able to offer emotional support and sensitivity as well as clear and knowledgeable legal advice. We take the time required to talk through their experience to get a good understanding of what has happened. We are patient and allow the victim or survivor time to disclose their history to us which can often take days, weeks or even months. We can also offer male or female lawyers.
We also work closely with both local and national charities that can provide additional support throughout the claims process and beyond.
Talking to us can be the first step in taking back power and seeking justice and compensation. Victims and survivors can also have confidence in our track record over more than two decades and can view Abuse Case Studies and details of institutions and groups that we have successfully pursued claims against on our website.
If you have been affected by anything in this article and would like to speak to one of our highly qualified abuse team members in confidence, then please do not hesitate to contact us. Our highly skilled abuse team will advice you on the available options for pursuing a civil damages claim. Jordans successfully represent and secure compensation for numerous victims of abuse and are highly experienced in this area. They are experts in overcoming the particular challenges that arise in these types of sensitive cases. Please contact the abuse team on 0800 9555 094.