Telling our story and breaking the silence can be a difficult and sometimes painful, whether its for the first time or the twentieth time. We recognise and have first hand experience of this and so have created a space for you to be able to speak out.

Here, you get the chance to write your story, publish your poem, show your pictures or drawings... this is the space where you get to break the silence and for others to hear you.

If you want to submit your words published or hang your pictures in this section, please email them to info@survivorsmanchester.org.uk with 'Gallery' in the subject line.

For the purposes of confidentiality and to retain anonymity for those that wish to do so,

some names may have been changed.

Annual March & Rally Against Child Sexual Abuse: London 2008

On Saturday 27th September 2008 an amazing and inspirational group of people set off from Marble Arch at approx 12.30pm and took to the streets of London and made our voices heard! As it wound through the streets of central London, hundreds of people stood at the roadside cheered and clapped their hands, whilst cars and buses beeped their horns in support.

As the march came to an end, we wound our way into a packed Trafalgar Square and escorted by the police to Nelson's Column where for next few hours, we sat and listened to some of the most inspirational people anyone would wish to meet stand up, take the mic and have their say. The support from those wandering around Trafalgar Square was fantastic. Many people stood by, watching and listening to what people had to say. It was a truly emotional, fulfilling, inspiring and fun day and we cannot wait till next year. Those that were there should all agree that we certainly BROKE THE SILENCE that day!

Click the box below to open a new window.

We can often find it difficult to say what we want to say. It could be that we're scared that others may not be able to hear our words and maybe we're even scared of hearing them out loud ourselves for the first time. Many find that expressing themselves in a letter, writing a poem or story is a safe way of getting those thoughts and images out of their head and into the here-and-now.

Click on the links below to open, in a new window, each of the pieces of creative writing that guys have sent into us to be displayed here. I'm sure you'll agree that you can hear the true voice of true survivors.
 

Click on a box below to open a new window in the piece of writing of your choice.

*Warning, some writing contains explicit language and may contain words you find triggering*

Speaking out doesn't always mean writing, there are other ways of expressing yourself in a positive and empowering way. Painting, drawing, photography and creating images can be fantastic ways of saying what you feel and help you continue to heal.

Click on the links below to open, in a new window, each piece of work that is hanging in our online survivors gallery. They are some of the most beautiful and inspiring images i think you will ever come across.

Click on a box below to open a new window in the picture of your choice.