Registered charity no: 1069802 February 2015 PO Box 63632 London SW9 1BF Support Line: 0808 801 0331 Website: www.napac.org.uk Email: support @napac.org.uk Newsletter Contents: Page 1. Latest News Page 2. Volunteers and Survivors Section Page 3. Minnow Films: Invitation Page 4-5. Christmas Fundraising/ British 10K London Run Page 6. Partnerships Page 7. Support Line Statistics Page 8. New Trustees/ Existing Trustees Thank You Message: Accommodation NAPAC wants to thank the many people who have responded to our appeal to find new office accommodation. However to date we have not been able to secure what is required so have had to sign a new lease here on a short term basis while we still investigate. Please be assured that all of us here at NAPAC will do our utmost to find a new abode. We do have assurance from the Home Office that there will be funding available to support NAPAC’s work and I am sure that this will happen soon. Appointment of Justice Lowell Goddard to head Institutional and organised abuse inquiry BBC NEWS A number of us met with Justice Goddard (as you probably know she is from New Zealand so not well known here) and I have to say we were pretty impressed with her and trust she is going to do a thorough job. What that job turns out to be I’m not sure but with our support (I mean the support of survivors everywhere) I am sure she can start the long overdue task of uncovering many painful truths about the outrage that is child abuse in this country. And hopefully we will see perpetrators in the dock soon after. We wish Justice Goddard and her team every best wish and they certainly have our support. Commission to Protect Minors and Vulnerable Adults I was recently appointed by Pope Francis to join his commission to protect minors and vulnerable adults. I didn’t make the decision to join lightly but having met the Pope in July I found him to be a man fully committed to change. Well, over the years I and many others have said….talk is cheap. It is action we need. I believe Francis is the man for action and as you will have seen he has already taken centre stage on a number of important social issues. On 7th/ 8th February, I had a very interesting time in Rome meeting the other members of the Pope‘s Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults and I have to say they are an impressive group. There is great determination to make significant changes in the Church so that abusers are rooted out, bishops and other senior clergy are held accountable and the upshot should be a safer place for children in the future. Plenty has been written about our meeting and I took part in the press conference which was beamed live around the world. I was introduced as “Peter Saunders, the man who set up NAPAC”. So we are really now known throughout the world now. A bit like our friends at SNAP! Link to the Press Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rJLo7_nfg0 Pete Saunders CEO 1 Registered charity no: 1069802 February 2015 Volunteers and Survivors Section… Martin Connell joined NAPAC in March 2014 as a volunteer. As well as his role within NAPAC he is also currently studying for a degree in MSc Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling at Birkbeck, University of London. He became aware of NAPAC through his wife who works as a social worker and had clients who had contacted NAPAC in the past and received support themselves. Martin is very much still a volunteer on the NAPAC Support Line and hopes to continue doing so. Be Part of a Verbatim Play Rosie MacGregor, one of our volunteers, is planning to write a verbatim play about historic child abuse and the long-term impact that it has. Verbatim plays are ones where the playwright uses the actual words of the people she interviews, along with their accents, speech patterns, hesitations and so on, making the dialogue very real and natural. If you would like to contact Rosie about this, her email address is: [email protected]. Getting in touch does not mean that you are committing to be a part of the project. Rosie is very aware that people may feel anxious about it and may wish to explore the idea before agreeing to participate Support Groups: Buckinghamshire Do you have a history of childhood abuse? Would you like to help yourself to understand and manage your life better? There is a 12 week psycho-educational support group in Brill, Buckinghamshire starting 25th March 2015 at 18:30pm— 21:00pm This group is free for participants and funded by NAPAC who are committed to helping you create a brighter future for yourself, even if your start to life was less than bright. It is open to anyone over the age of 18 in the Buckinghamshire/ Oxfordshire area. Valerie Admission to the group will be via a friendly interview and confidentiality is taken very seriously. For further information, in confidence, email [email protected] or call 07527 144 157 or visit http://napac.org.uk/ survivors-2/ News from the North West…. Things are moving on steadily here in the North West and it’s great to see things moving forward and the Support Centre becoming a thriving hub of activity. We sadly lost Bina as a member of staff in the New Year and wish her well in her future endeavours, we are currently recruiting for a third staff member and details can be found on the NAPAC website. We are now halfway through training our third group of volunteers and again have been fortunate to have some amazing new people training with us to be Support Line volunteers. Our volunteers from the first two training courses are now taking calls on a regular basis and we are working on the Support Line Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 2pm – 9pm. If you are interested in volunteering and can easily get to our central Stockport office, please contact [email protected] or call us on 0161 429 7461 2 Registered charity no: 1069802 February 2015 Invitation…. My name is Katherine Anstey and I’m a producer at Minnow Films, an independent television production company. Minnow Films has been commissioned by BBC ONE to make a feature length 90 minute documentary to serve as a detailed account of the survivors' experiences of the crimes being investigated under Operation Yewtree (extending to Stuart Hall). Its goal is to give a free voice to those who have been affected over the last 50 years, and to give an insight into the long-term impact of abuse, using the words of those who were abused by Savile and others. It will also seek to reflect the profound impact that speaking out has had, both on the individuals involved and for society as a whole. The film is expected to be broadcast in 2016, and will be led by the testimonies of the survivors themselves. It is our ambition that this film will not just inform its viewers of the long-lasting impact of these experiences, but will also help de-stigmatise the conversation around abuse, and give further confidence to those who may be considering speaking out about their own experiences. The film will be directed by Olly Lambert, a BAFTA and Emmy award-winning director who specialises in the delicate handling of complex and challenging subjects. For further information about Minnow Films, Olly and this project, please visit www.minnowfilms.co.uk/Yewtree. If you have witnessed or experienced physical or sexual abuse by Savile or any of those being prosecuted under Operation Yewtree and feel able to talk to me, I would highly value a conversation with you. You may wish to get in touch for a number of reasons: · To find out more about the project, or to be informed about when it is being broadcast · To provide us with information anonymously and / or confidentially · To provide us with information that can be used without attribution in the documentary · To discuss the possibility of taking part in the documentary in some form when filming begins later this year If you feel able to talk about the impact of your experience, the first stage of this process would be for us to have a confidential, off the record conversation, in as much or as little detail as you feel appropriate. There is no further commitment involved, and even if our conversation does not lead to filming or you taking any further part, such conversations would be invaluable in helping us understand the nature of events which have affected so many over the last fifty years. You will not be required to give your name, and calls will not be recorded. Anything you tell us is confidential; the only exceptions to this are if we learn that someone is currently in serious danger of harm. To get in touch with myself or Olly, you can contact us directly during office hours on 020 7078 8155 (messages can be left out of hours), or you can email us at [email protected]. You may also prefer someone to contact us on your behalf. We recognize the difficulty involved and the courage it takes to talk about these experiences, and do hope to hear from you. 3 Registered charity no: 1069802 February 2015 Christmas Fundraising: Bigfoot Auction We are humbled by the generosity of our friends at Panagua Bikes who have surpassed expectations and put together a set of auction items. All the profits raised benefit our chosen charity NAPAC – The National Association For People Abused in Childhood. NAPAC – is one of the less high profile charities set up as a result of recommendations by the National Commission into the Prevention of Child Abuse. Post Savile, the high profile scandal in Rotherham and the enquiries into historic child abuse by former MP’s. NAPAC provides vital support to adults who have suffered abuse in childhood. Darren Williams Type of event: Auction Who ran the event: Bigfoot Cycling Club and Panagua Bikes When was it: 05/12/14 Where was it: Metropolitan Police Sports Club The event involved auctioning some of the following prizes:      Lunch for two people at the House of Commons followed by Prime Ministers Question Time Lunch for two people with Karen Millen OBE Three original first day covers produced for the London 2012 Games individually signed by Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton Two day VIP experience for a Family of four at Paradise Wildlife Park A portrait of Bradley Wiggins by world-renowned artist Paul Karslake What was achieved: From the auction, Bigfoot Cycling Club and Panagua Bike managed to raise around £7000, this includes Bigfoot Cycling Club also raising £781 after a successful Christmas raffle. Bromley Little Theatre—Charity Preview Event Complete Female Stage Beauty Thursday 16th April at 19:45pm This lively, modern play is set in the early years of Charles II’s reign, when the King changes the law to allow female actors on the London stage. At the centre of the production is the Shakespearean actor, Kynaston, the most successful interpreter of female roles of his age, whose career is ended almost overnight by this ruling. Jeffrey Hatcher’s script negotiates beautifully and honestly the theme of sexual identity and the importance placed on it by society, producing some moments that are bawdy and hilarious, others that are moving and poignant. Historical characters like Charles II, Nell Gwyn and Samuel Pepys all play prominent parts in the story. The production will be in period costume, so if you like the idea of an intelligent, modern script, adorned with Restoration wigs and furbelows, come along. WARNING: Some of the scenes in the play may be unsuitable for children 4 Registered charity no: 1069802 February 2015 British 10k London Run Would you like to be part of SPORTNAPAC ‘S Running Team who are participating in the British 10K London Run on Sunday 12 July 2015? This iconic road race starts at 9:35am at Piccadilly Circus and finishes at Whitehall. NAPAC has only three remaining places available for this 2015 event so contact us now. Not only would you be running for a great cause but you would also get to see many of London’s historic landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben. By running for NAPAC you will be part of a dedicated team of volunteers raising awareness of NAPAC’s work and the much needed funds for our free Support Services which help to rebuild the lives of people abused in childhood (one in four adults living in the UK today were abused in childhood). For a fee of £45 your place will be secured, we will supply a good quality Running Vest for you to wear, and ask that you agree to a fundraising target of at least £150 as well. NAPAC will provide sponsorship forms and leaflets to share with friends and family. If you are interested please contact [email protected] for further information. Future Fundraising Events… We would like to wish our fundraisers the best of luck with their chosen challenges to support NAPAC and the work that we do:  22/02/2015: Simon’s Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon  05/04/2015: Susan’s UK Skydive  12/04/2015: Sarah Tysall’s Schneider Electric Paris Marathon  16/04/2015: Bromley Little Theatre—Charity Preview Event  26/04/2015: Abbie’s Virgin London Marathon If you would like to fundraise for NAPAC or would like fundraising ideas, please feel free to contact our Fundraising Manager, Anne Molyneux at [email protected] 5 Registered charity no: 1069802 February 2015 Partnerships…. NAPAC has been awarded a grant by the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner’s office to deliver support services for victims of historic sexual crime. This funding is for the period of 2014/2015. We will be offering a support group for survivors and training for professionals who work with people who may disclose childhood abuse. We hope this will be the first of several partnerships with PCCs. The Surrey PCC contract is moving ahead. NAPAC will be delivering a support group in the Surrey area starting in March (we hope) with places for up to 12 people. We will publish venue and dates on our website. We will also be delivering a free one day training course in Guildford on March 17th in Supporting Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse (SASCA) with 30 free places funded by Surrey PCC. This course is designed for anyone who may come into contact with survivors to have the tools to manage this very personal disclosure of information. There will also be a two day training package over two days in Guildford (18th and 19th March) for mental health practitioners to be introduced to NAPAC’s way of working with survivors of all types of childhood abuse. There are twelve subsidised places for this two day training. Please contact [email protected] or visit http://napac.org.uk/surrey-pcc-3/ if you are interested in either package, places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Become a partner…. At NAPAC, we know how best to support survivors of childhood abuse, and have two decades of experience in delivering that support effectively. But we also know that we cannot do it all by ourselves. Other charities, public and private sector bodies, local voluntary organisations, all have a part to play. Our Five Year Plan sets out our ambition, to deliver more and better support for survivors everywhere. If you share NAPAC’s vision of a world in which survivors get the support they deserve, and you can help deliver that support, then do get in touch with us. Contact Anne Molyneux for more information [email protected] 6 Registered charity no: 1069802 February 2015 Support Line Services…. Displayed above are the figures for what we achieved on the Support Line in the last year (1/10/13) up to 30/09/14 using Lottery Funding. Our aim was to reduce feelings of distress for 1,730 callers and we accomplished that for 2,011 callers who told us they were distressed. Also to reduce feelings of isolation 670 callers and we achieved that for 1,390 callers who felt isolated. In total the Support Line answered 4,886 calls in the year. Support Services: Comparison of Support Line calls answered: 2013—2014 The reason behind the statistics being greater in 2013 are a direct result of the Jimmy Savile revelations which triggered flashbacks for many people. As you can see NAPAC has somewhat managed to maintain a steady call rate in 2014 which we hope to surpass in 2015. 01/01/2013—31/12/2013: 5542 Calls Answered 01/01/2014—31/12/2014: 5064 Calls Answered NAPAC is delighted to promote Support Groups for survivors, see this literature review in the RSPH journal written by our Operations Manager Dr. Jon Bird: http://t.co/QBLkMCZ8Fz 7 Registered charity no: 1069802 NAPAC’s Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall control and strategy direction of the charity. Introducing our New Trustees… Karen Nock Martin Connell Martin Connell is a fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants. Having spent over twenty five years working in investment banking he now works as an independent accountant and tax adviser. Karen is a Children’s Guardian at Cafcass where she represents the voice of children in private and public law proceedings. She has been a qualified social worker since 2005 working primarily in Child Protection (Safeguarding). Tim Lambert Shaun Spencer Consultant Psychiatrist, Fellow of Royal College of Psychiatrists. Former Medical Director of a London NHS Trust. Specialised in general and forensic psychiatry. Currently medical member, First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health). Shaun is a barrister based in Manchester. He specialises in family law with a particular emphasis on complex cases that often involve the abuse of children. who are now working alongside our existing Trustees: James Badenoch QC Majorie Jenkins A barrister specialising in clinical negligence, medical law generally, mental health, human rights, personal injury and common law. Deputy High Court Judge and President of the Mental Health Review Tribunal. Former Sexual Offences Investigative Techniques Officer with the Metropolitan Police. Now involved in training to raise awareness of the importance of early reporting of rape. Message from Josh: If you would like any news or have any suggestions for our next newsletter please contact me at [email protected] PO Box 63632 London SW9 1BF Support Line: 0808 801 0331 Website: www.napac.org.uk Email: support @napac.org.uk/ [email protected] 8