Speaking Up Isn’t Easy, But It Matters – Because Change Starts With Courage

For many survivors of abuse, particularly abuse occurring in childhood, one of the greatest barriers to coming forward is the fear that they will not be believed.

For many courageous survivors, finding the strength to speak out can be the hardest part of finding justice, but we do often hear of the sense of relief to be believed. Historically, we would hear reports that institutions had failed to treat reports of abuse with the care, seriousness and compassion they deserved. The last thing a survivor of abuse needs is to feel ignored, dismissed or re-traumatised when they place their trust in someone by speaking out for the first time. 

Thankfully, many institutions have been making commitments to improve their handling of sensitive reports from survivors, meaning they no longer have to question whether their courage to come forward was worthwhile. This is perhaps no clearer than with the scrutiny the Church of England has faced in recent years surrounding the many abuses of the now deceased priest, John Smyth, and the Church’s handling of reports from survivors. 

The Makin Review, published in November 2024, considered the handling of allegations against Smyth by the Church. It found that reports of the abuse had been long known by some Church officials who had failed to intervene and, in some instances, had actively concealed Smyth’s abuses. The report has prompted renewed calls for improvements to survivor-centred safeguarding and recognition of the need for ‘institutional accountability’, and has seen a flurry of further independent investigations off the back of the Makin Review

One such review, published earlier this month, has examined complaints by another survivor of John Smyth, known as ‘TT’, who came forward in 2001 but was left feeling that the church’s investigations lacked empathy or coordination. Clearly, following the Makin Review, there is a continuing willingness and hunger to investigate historic reports made to the Church, and how they were received. This shows that the pressure on institutions to improve their handling of reports must be maintained to increase scrutiny and help to push for more accountability and better support for survivors. 

Over the years, thankfully, we have noticed that instances of reports being mishandled or overlooked are becoming notably less common. Now, when a survivor comes forward, we find there is often a far more rigorous reporting network, and support available, to help the survivor feel not just believed but assured that their story will be taken seriously. 

It can also give others the confidence to come forward. This week, a courageous teenager from Merseyside urged other victims to ‘speak up and tell someone’ after the man who groomed and sexually abused her was sentenced to prison. What stands out is that, by having the courage to share her experience, she not only stopped her abuse from offending again, but she has become a powerful advocate for other young people, helping them to feel they will be believed. 

We can help

You do not have to suffer in silence. At Jordans Solicitors, we can support you, whether it is your first time speaking to the police or you have made a report before and believe it was not investigated. Survivors’ voices are more important than ever to achieving not only justice, but meaningful change in the way incidents of sexual abuse are handled. 

We act for individuals in making compensation claims, to help financially support survivors of abuse. However, civil claims also play an important role in driving change, creating meaningful financial and reputational accountability for the institutions that do fail to take action. That accountability can encourage investment in safer practices, stronger safeguarding procedures and a culture where protecting children comes before protecting reputations.