SURVIVORS MANCHESTER is a non-religious, voluntary, survivor-led/survivor-run project that aims to create and facilitate a safe space for male survivors of sexual abuse and rape in Manchester, in order for survivors to work through personal, and sometimes painful, issues and so begin a journey of supported discovery and self-healing.

Currently in its fledgling stages, the main focus of SURVIVORS MANCHESTER will be a survivor-led/facilitated support group that will meet weekly in a suitable and safe enviornment. Other services will include an online forum for peer support and information; an online and digital directory of relevant services in the North West; web space for survivors to display their creative work, such as photo's, poems, short stories, drawings, etc; and downloadable resources for survivors and concerned others. In time, Survivors Manchester hopes to be able to run a telephone helpline; email support; a face to face drop in service; and 1-2-1 counselling with a qualified counsellor working under the BACP ethical framework.

But this is a huge task to complete and as you will see some parts of the website are still under construction with pages still being written. Other tasks being carried out behind the scenes include: meeting with other local agencies and organisations to create a complimentary working partnership that will allow supported access and referral to a wide range of services dealing with many other issues; researching sources of funding to allow SURVIVORS MANCHESTER to be accessed by all survivors at no cost; and importantly finding the right premises to hold the weekly support group - "The Safe Room" - where everyone can feel as safe as they can. We want to 100% ensure that what we says we do, we really do and NEVER be a project/service that lets people down. Whilst we are in the process of sorting all this out, we want to make sure that you don't feel your visit was wasted (it take some people a hell of a lot of guts to come to a site like this). We would highly recommend visiting Survivors Swindon at www.survivorsswindon.com. This truly amazing organisation has helped hundreds of men over the past 16 years (me included and continues to do so) and we wouldn't normally recommend anywhere but we know this is a organisation we can trust.

Contact details for other national and local organisations can be found on the RESOURCES page.

SURVIVORS MANCHESTER was originally conceived whilst I was training as an Integrative Counsellor. During some research, I found that although there were various organisations for female survivors of sexual abuse and rape (and quite rightly so), there was nothing in Manchester for men. I suddenly found myself working with many men who were beginning to accept their past experiences, face the future and deal with the legacy of abuse they had suffered.

This catapulted me into looking into my own past and accepting the truth that I was sexually abused as a child. Deconstructing myself was part of a painful process but integral to both my training and, in hindsight, my continuing survival.

I found it highly distressing to see the lack of support out their for male survivors, especially in such a wonderful city as Manchester. I decided there and then that if major cities such as London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh had support mechanisms in place then I could not sit by and see these inspirational people that I was working with suffer any longer. If no organisation was out there, then I would have to create one... and so SURVIVORS MANCHESTER was born.

"To break the silence of the sexual abuse and rape of men in order to empower those affected

to defeat the legacy of abuse to move towards positive futures"

• To ensure that no man in Manchester is denied access to Survivors Manchester services, regardless of race, culture, religion, age, ability, sexual orientation or socio-economic class and status.

• To provide current information to men of the legacy of sexual abuse and rape via a specific website.

• To provide appropriate general advice, support and external referral to male survivors of sexual abuse and rape.

• To facilitate survivor-led weekly support group sessions.

• To provide appropriate and accessible counselling by ‘surviving’ qualified counsellors and psychotherapists to compliment other services already available in the community.

• To work creatively with male survivors to equip them with new skills and facilitate positive growth.

• To provide education, training, and awareness raising campaigns around the issue of the sexual abuse of men of all ages and backgrounds.

• To continue to learn from our work and respond effectively to new knowledge and identified needs.

Survivors Manchester has a strict confidentiality policy where any information that you give to the staff here will remain confidential within this service. This means that any information you give to us will not be passed on to anyone outside the organisation without your prior knowledge and permission. However, there may be rare occasions when we might have to break confidentiality in the interest of safety – such as, immediate risk to life or the welfare of a child - and we always aim to discuss this with you first, but this cannot be guaranteed.

We may keep written records of, and information regarding, users of this service and reasons for this will always be explained to you first. You have the right to see any information that pertains to you, please ask if you wish to see your personal records.

We aim to achieve to create a safe and confidential space for all male survivors of sexual abuse and rape and are always more than happy to discuss any queries or concerns you may have.

This charter sets out your rights as a user of this service.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

• Be treated with respect.

• Remain anonymous if you wish.

• Be given information in plain language about services we provide.

• Know that anything you discuss with a worker is confidential within the service.

• See any files kept about you.

• Be seen as quickly as possible.

• Complain about the service.

• Tell us how to improve the service.

• Not be the subject of research without your consent.

• Not to provide any information which you do not wish to reveal.