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A fundraiser has been launched to support victims of grooming gangs

A GoFundMe has been launched to provide survivors of UK grooming gangs with much-needed support.

Grooming gangs survivors: a much-needed fundraiser

According to The Survivors Archive:

For decades, survivors of grooming gangs across Britain have been ignored, silenced, and let down. Many still carry deep emotional wounds — not only from the abuse itself, but also from the betrayal and isolation that followed.

The UK has a distinct lack of support and therapy that is easily accessible for survivors of sexual violence. So now, the Survivors archive is raising money for a therapeutic retreat.

The Survivors Archive is a research project which collects survivor stories and documents linked to grooming gangs in the UK.

Donna Rachel, founder of The Survivors Archive, said:

As we all know, the survivors of grooming gangs have suffered unimaginable horrors in their young lives. But what many don’t realise is that the suffering doesn’t end when the abuse stops. The trauma of their experiences stays with them, impacting their lives decades after they escape their abusers, leaving them feeling alone and abandoned.

That’s why it’s so important that survivors are offered meaningful, trauma-informed support and an opportunity to connect with people who share their experiences.

Community, safety, security – these are things the rest of us take for granted, but can be impossible for survivors to access. By launching these retreats, we aim to offer just that. For 48 hours, they get to experience the fellowship of other survivors in a supportive, safe environment, tailor made to meet their needs.

They get to reconnect with nature, with humans in a safe way, and through creativity and gentle therapeutic movement, with themselves in a way that nurtures and gives hope. Obviously a 48 hour retreat isn’t enough to undo years of abuse, but it can be the first step on the road to a more secure and fulfilling life for survivors, which, ultimately, is what any work with survivors should be about.

A retreat

The organisation is trying to raise £10k to take ten women who survived abuse as children or young adults, on a weekend retreat.

In June, a review into grooming gang abuse in England and Wales was published. The review prompted a national inquiry, along with local inquiries.

Correne, one of the women looking to attend the retreat, said:

I need this retreat more than anything. Every day I’m battling with my mental health and anxiety. There’s no real support out there for us, so this means the world to me to know I’m going to have a peaceful weekend away with other survivors who understand me. I’m really looking forward to the different therapies we’re going to be doing

Sam, another survivor, commented on the lack of support available. She said:

The retreat will help survivors build their confidence and self-esteem back up, and help them gain coping skills, which is something that’s important to me.

The retreat has the opportunity to positively impact the lives of ten women impacted by horrendous abuse. You can donate to the fundraiser here.

Feature image via The Survivors Archive/X

By HG

This post was originally published on Canary.