MALE SURVIVOR SUPPORT ORGANISATION REACHES THE UK AGE OF CONSENT
Wednesday 5 February, 2025
Consent Conversations short film released as part of the 16th BirthdayBeyond The Silence magazine Issue 5 publishedBeyond The Silence: Podcast ‘Birthday Special’ airs
LEADING GREATER MANCHESTER BASED MALE SURVIVOR ORGANISATION, WE ARE SURVIVORS, HAS LAUNCHED ITS 16TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS WITH A YEAR OF CONSENT.
Founded in 2009 by Mancunian born and raised survivor of sexual abuse, rape and sexual exploitation, Duncan Craig OBE, We Are Survivors has grown to be the largest specialist male survivor support centre in the UK.
In the 16 years since We Are Survivors was born, the organisation has been part of telling the story of male survivors in the UK, from Hollyoaks to Holby City’s Casualty department, Coronation Street to Albert Square, male survivors voices have been front and centre of their public influence.
Their ambassadors have won Celebrity Mastermind (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK - Cheddar Gorgeous); won 6 Emmy’s and a Golden Globe and become one of the worlds most talked about Netflix series (Baby Reindeer – Richard Gadd); and continued to break the silence on male sexual harms on TV and on the Podcast airwaves (Male Minds Matter - James Sutton).
The team have been involved in the development of the Victims Strategy (2018); the first ever government position paper on male victims of violence against women and girls (2019, 2022); and have worked alongside government since the inception of the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (2009), being long time advocates of preventing sexual offences and supporting those impacted.
Alex Davies-Jones MP, Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls gave her Birthday wishes to the organisation: “A very Happy Birthday and a huge thank you to We Are Survivors. The work you do supporting male survivors and making sure their experiences are recognised is truly remarkable. It’s imperative that consent is ingrained into the minds of future generations from day dot. We are committed to improving understanding of consent and tackling harmful attitudes throughout society. No will always mean no.”
Jess Phillips MP, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls said: "Wishing a very happy birthday to We Are Survivors! As the organisation marks its 16th birthday – a milestone age that carries special significance in your mission to support male survivors of abuse and exploitation – I commend your dedication to promoting vital conversations about consensual and healthy relationships. Your launch of the 'Year of Consent' comes at a crucial time: these discussions have never been more important, and everyone has a part to play. I look forward to an impactful year ahead, in which the Home Office can continue to collaborate with We Are Survivors as you educate, support, and empower communities through your invaluable work”.
Whilst the organisation has and will always play their part in tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) it has also long campaigned to have a separate strategy for men and boys and not, as is currently the case, have male victims / survivors of rape, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation classed as victims of VAWG.
In the absence of a specific national strategy for boys and men, We Are Survivors recently co-authored and launched a Greater Manchester strategy and plan with Professor David Gadd on behalf of Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester – Kate Green. Kate wished the organisation many happy returns: “A very happy 16th birthday to all at We Are Survivors! Enjoy a wonderful ‘Year of Consent’ – and here’s to many more victories!”
The team at We Are Survivors have been busy planning what a 16th
Birthday year looks like and details of their ‘Year of Consent’ are in the latest edition of the Beyond The Silence magazine, which can be picked up in coffee shops, bars, entertainment outlets, libraries and other venues across Greater Manchester, as well as online at www.issuu.com/survivorsmanchester. The ‘Year of Consent’ will include the production of a documentary, live theatre, visual arts, spoken word and culminate in a Festival of Consent
in January 2026.
The organisation hopes that their Year of Consent will get Greater Manchester and the UK talking about the very issue every single one of the 8000+ survivors that have engaged in the service in the last 16 years were unable to give… CONSENT.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of We Are Survivors, Duncan Craig OBE said “as we were putting the finishing touches to the Consent Conversations film, fine tuning the Beyond the Silence Podcast, and proofing the Beyond the Silence magazine, I was just so humbled at what started in the corner of my flat has grown to be this – the largest male survivor service in the UK, supporting men like me, male survivors. I might not have had We Are Survivors 19+ years ago when I needed help, but I’m determined to ensure that every survivor now has the best and right access to support. None of us should ever feel silenced”
We Are Survivors 16th Birthday Year commences 05.02.2025
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