Pauline Sharp

Mum wife survivor to thriver........I am the me I'm meant to be

[Pauline Sharp @peepeesharp]

@Lads_Like_Us You got this @MikeLowryrLLU sending well wishes love n hugs....🫂🩵

[The Flying Child (CIC) @TheFlyingChild]

On day four of sexual abuse and sexual violence awareness week I want to share a documentary called The Last Taboo. It is a Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, as part of their ‘Lights out’ series.

https://t.co/uHURNUAflg

The documentary is about my experiences as a child sexual abuse survivor, in the mental health system. If you take a listen, you will understand why I am passionate about advocating for change.

Today I’m in Leicester, keynoting for the NSPCC at their Partnerships and Development day, and I’ll be sharing part of this story to highlight the importance of integrating survivor lived experience into the development of services.

https://t.co/uBYYbXjPGL

#ItsNotOk

[Chris Tuck | CSA Speaker & Campaigner @ChrisTuck_SoB]

#SexualAbuseAndSexualViolenceAwarenessWeek was founded by Yehudis G in 2016, supported by many individuals and organisations on the sterring committee, including me @SOB_Org

We launched in City Hall.
@MigdalEmunahUK
Polly Harrar Mandy Sanghera

Each year, this campaign has gone from strength to strength.

This year, we are continuing to raise digital awareness via social media.

Everyone can get involved by challenging myths, raising awareness of services, and sharing what matters to you.

Digital campaign visit
https://t.co/dpsetcxtFD
or print off the blank image below, write your message, and share on social media with the #ItsNotOk2025

Get involved... Have your voice heard.

#BreakingTheSilence #BreakingTheCycle #CSA #CSE #ACEs #DV #Bullying #SurvivorsMatter

@itsnotok2025 #SASV

[DellasLaw @DellasLaw]

Really grateful to Carrie from the Let's Get Visible Podcast, for having me on to talk about the campaign for #Dellaslaw

Please listen and share if you're able to.

6yrs campaigning and still waiting for this loophole to be closed!

Listen here 👉 https://t.co/xcN6QXbrOO

[Pauline Sharp @peepeesharp]

@ChrisTuck_WWHF Thank you @ChrisTuck_WWHF x

[Pauline Sharp @peepeesharp]

My latest blog. Sibling abuser
@ChrisTuck_WWHF @Beverle63301178 @TakeCover12 @NicoleCaroli1 @survivorstrust
https://t.co/XtJGD3xR2i

[Pauline Sharp @peepeesharp]

Safeguarding children within the equestrian world. - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/pM0YCI2EQH via @UKChange

[Pauline Sharp @peepeesharp]

Safeguarding children within the equestrian world. - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/pM0YCI3cGf via @UKChange

[Chris Tuck | CSA Speaker & Campaigner @ChrisTuck_SoB]

#WednesdayHumpDay

How are you doing?

I am doing a piece with Channel 4 today so I am sharing with you how I have to look after myself in order to do this....

Have a listen and let me know your thoughts 🙂

https://t.co/oot7U25TsP

@SOB_Org

[Chris Tuck | CSA Speaker & Campaigner @ChrisTuck_SoB]

Breaking the sound of silence

https://t.co/OZDp5k45u8

[Pauline Sharp @peepeesharp]

Take a look at my new blog.

https://t.co/m6mb1GDxfu

@TakeCover12 @ChrisTuck_WWHF @StepForward_me @ChrisTandBevA @HEH_Mind @HavantBorough @portsmouthnews @ParcsProject @nicole

[The Survivors Trust @survivorstrust]

Its never too late to seek support 💜#SupportSurvivors #ItsNotOK #SASVAW

[Chris Tuck | CSA Speaker & Campaigner @ChrisTuck_SoB]

Day 2 Post 2 #ItsNotOk

"Child abuse devastates children's lives."

"It shouldn't hurt to be a child."

(This is a personal post and yes I am ok to share. I am only sharing snippets with you btw. It seems these types of posts make people understand more.).

When your the actual victim - Or the child of the sexual offender who thought their dad (although weak) was a good person.

But had to acknowledge, accept and grow up knowing he wasn't (my dad didn't sexually abuse me but did others - I was sexually abused by 2 other people aged 9 and 15).

#SexualAbuseWithinTheFamilyNetwork

#SASV #SexualAbuseAndSexualViolenceAwarenessWeek

#BreakingTheSilence #BreakingTheCycle #SOB #BeTheChange #AbuseIsNotColourBlind #CSA #CSE #DV #Bullying

This birthday card was sent to me by my birth dad 15.4.1982 I have the envelope date stamped on it. I was 12 on this birthday.

Just gone to live with my mum and stepdad after enduring years of abuse by stepmum. Dad was in prison for what he had done sexually to others. But he was complicit in the abuse & neglect we suffered with her.

We went onto endure 4 more years of abuse with Mum and stepdad.

Social services thought they had done a 'good job' by placing us with mum after a custody battle through the family courts; mum was awarded custody purely because of dad going to prison. Social care walked away and left us at the mercy of a drunk and a sexual offender.

By this time (at this time) we were silenced into not speaking up anymore because what was the point?

So when abuse is not acknowledged /believed by professionals particularly at the time of disclosure they are perpetuating the ongoing harm and misery.

As an adult when you cannot get access to you 'records' because they have been 'destroyed' or 'do not exist' you have no evidence to back on up what you have said.

You have no access to justice, https://t.co/Yhd6yx2uif feel invalidated, you feel like a liar.

In our case a MASH report and a small bundle of papers 'turned up 3 years' into our Police investigation. This bundle was date stamped Aug 1988.

It backed up what we had shared in our autobiography Through the Eyes Of a Child written in 2012 and our testimony shared with the Police.

It was enough evidence for the Police but it was still not enough for the CPS??

This is another story and book for another day.

The 'pain' #childsexualabuse leaves behind for the victim & survivor can be lifelong & devastating as you can see above.

And this is echoed by all the voices that took part in Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and all the silent voices yet not heard.

We must #ActOnIICSA

#itsnotok @itsnotok2024

#BreakingTheCycle #BreakingTheSilence

[Chris Tuck | CSA Speaker & Campaigner @ChrisTuck_SoB]

Far too long....

Many adult survivors (adult can be 18 years and 1 day old) wait years for trauma informed support and care. And many never get it.

Many do not know that the symptoms they live with on a day to day basis is a result of the trauma impact of the abuse they endured as a child and or young person.

This trauma impact is passed down to the next generation with an associated negative social impact and cost £.

My 1st lot of counselling was aged 28 after the birth of my 1st child (I had struggled to this point but did not know it).

6 weeks statutory service counselling - more harmful than helpful.

Struggled on for another 3 years... eventually I had breakdown at work in front of my work collegues.

A private professional asked me about my 'work stress' and my 'home stress' and my 'childhood experiences'.

They explained to me the link.

I started to research trauma and the link to adverse childhood experiences and the impact on mental and physical health.

This started me on my journey to changing my career to becoming a trauma informed health and wellness coach since 2003.

It led me to accessing trauma informed, long term, person centred therapy and showed me why this is so important.

Some victims and survivors of abuse will need this at different times in their lives.

Some will need more intense therapy for most or all of their lives.

Some will need minimal support depending on them and their needs.

But many do not know they need it, they just struggle on with the symptoms; or how to access it because for the main it is not accessible easily.

I have had tried different forms of therapy and they all had their place. However what really helped me was a mix of EMDR and talk therapy (as part of the session) over a longer period of time.

When you are working, have a family, are going through the criminal justice system, working with victims and survivors on a daily basis and feeding all of your experiences into a national Inquiry into changing things for others; it all takes a toll.

Self care is paramount and then you add therapy on top....

You need processing time in between sessions not only to deal with the actual session but also to let the mind and body to process what came out in the session and what else is going on.

Professionally I tried to keep it together but there were a few times when things got too much and I became emotional and had a meltdown. Needed time out to rest and regroup.

Usually that would bring about a bout of shame and guilt but no more.

We are human right?

And I have had to do alot of work because of what was DONE to me.

None of which was my fault.

Yet I have had to put the time, the energy and the £s ; in order to get healthier and well.

Should that be my responsibility? Is this right?

We owe it to children, young people and adults to provide them with the specialist support and help they need and deserve when they require it.

Thoughts?

#BreakingTheCycle #ActOnIICSA

[Chris Tuck | CSA Speaker & Campaigner @ChrisTuck_SoB]

#SexualAbuseandSexualViolence awareness week is in its 8th year.

Founder @YehudisG

This awareness week is all about coming together as a sector to make a bigger impact in the media to raise awareness of who we all are, what we do, the challenges we face & what needs to be done.

This awareness week is about Survivors, supporters and allies coming together to show everyone why you think itsnotok?

Save the #ITSNOTOK image, print it off, write your reason, take a photo and share on social media!

Let’s get the word out! Use #ITSNOTOK and tag us to share @itsnotok2024.

5th to 11th February we will be increasing our normal activism.

#SASV #SexualAbuseAndSexualViolenceAwarenessWeek #SOB #BeTheChange #SurvivorsMatter #AbuseIsNotColourBlind #CSA #CSE #DV #Bullying

@SOB_Org - Survivors Of ABuse @ChrisTandBevA Breaking the Cycle To StepForward

@IICSAVSCP

#ActOnIICSA

[Fatima Whitbread @FatimaWh1tbread]

Fatima’s UK Campaign, met today with sports friend Graham Gooch, working together on building a sporting and work opportunities for our children and young people in the care system 🙏

[The Survivors Trust @survivorstrust]

Join #EmployersAgainstAbuse in 2024💜 Employers in England & Wales can join our FREE, specialised training programme to help create supportive & empowering workplaces for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence. Find out more & book your place ➡ https://t.co/BWqLl4XDV8

[Fatima Whitbread @FatimaWh1tbread]

Fatima”s Campaign
It was an absolute pleasure meeting The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper. We’re working in collaboration to bring better outcomes for our children, young people and care systems sectors. Watch this space 🙏