October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. It is a time to talk about domestic abuse, to raise awareness of what it can look like, and to remind people experiencing abuse that support is available.
But at S.H.E. UK, we also know that domestic abuse does not always exist in isolation. For some of the survivors we support, the abuse they are experiencing in their adult lives is not the first time they have experienced abuse.
Some have survived childhood sexual abuse and later found themselves in abusive relationships as adults. Understanding that connection matters.
Abuse can have a long shadow
Childhood sexual abuse can have an impact that reaches far beyond childhood.
Every survivor’s experience is different. For some people, the effects may emerge immediately. For others, they may become apparent years or even decades later, affecting relationships, trust, confidence, self-esteem and a person’s understanding of what a healthy relationship looks and feels like.
Research and evidence from specialist sexual abuse organisations highlights the connection between childhood sexual abuse and later experiences of domestic abuse.
Safeline reports that 51% of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse experienced domestic abuse in later life.
That does not mean that experiencing childhood sexual abuse means someone will go on to experience domestic abuse. Nor does it mean that survivors are responsible in any way for the abuse they subsequently experience. It does, however, demonstrate why it is important to look at someone’s experiences across their whole life rather than treating each experience of abuse as something completely separate.
Domestic abuse isn’t always physical
When we hear the words ‘domestic abuse’, it can be easy to picture physical violence, but domestic abuse can take many forms.
It can include coercive and controlling behaviour, threats and intimidation, emotional abuse, economic abuse and sexual abuse. It can involve a partner, former partner or family member. For someone who has already experienced sexual abuse during childhood, experiencing abuse or control within an adult relationship can add another layer of trauma.
It may affect their sense of safety, their ability to trust, their confidence in setting boundaries or their belief that they deserve to be treated differently. And sometimes, it can take time for someone to recognise that what they are experiencing is abuse.
Why specialist support matters
At S.H.E. UK, we support adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
We know that survivors do not leave their experiences behind simply because they reach adulthood. People can come to us carrying experiences that happened many years ago. They may be struggling with the impact on their relationships, their confidence, their emotional wellbeing or their ability to move forward with their lives. Some may also be dealing with abuse in their current lives.
That is why creating a safe space where someone can talk, be heard and receive specialist support is so important. It isn’t about telling someone what they should do, it is about helping them understand their experiences, rebuild their sense of self and have the support they need to take back control of their lives.
This October, we are asking you to join our 10 in 10 campaign
Domestic Abuse Awareness Month is also a reminder of why specialist services need to be there when survivors are ready to reach out. And that is why, this October, S.H.E. UK is launching a public appeal to raise £10,000 in 10 days. We need your help to continue providing vital support to survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Every £ helps.
Reaching our £10,000 target would fund:
📞 500 telephone support calls
Giving survivors a safe space to talk to someone who understands and can listen without judgement.
💛 100 hours of 1:1 therapy
Providing dedicated therapeutic support to help survivors work through their experiences and take steps towards rebuilding their lives.
£10,000 can make a very real difference.
The S.H.E. UK 10 in 10 Campaign
From 12 to 21 October, we will be running our 10 in 10 campaign, with a target of raising £10,000 in 10 days.
We’ll be bringing our community together through fundraising activities, including a Bake Sale and Pub Quiz, as well as giving people the opportunity to donate online. We’ll also be sharing regular updates throughout the campaign so that you can see how your support is helping us move towards our target.
It represents hundreds of opportunities for someone to be heard, supported and reminded that they do not have to face the impact of abuse alone.
Will you step up to help us?
- You can make a donation.
- You can organise your own fundraising activity.
- You can support one of our events.
- You can encourage your workplace or business to get involved.
- Or you can simply share our campaign with your friends, family and colleagues.
Every action helps.
Because behind every telephone call and every hour of therapy is a person.
- A person who deserves to be heard.
- A person who deserves support.
- A person who deserves the opportunity to move forward.
This Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, let’s remember that the effects of abuse can follow people through their lives – and that specialist support can help survivors take back control.
💛 Help us raise £10,000 for S.H.E. UK.
👉 Donate to S.H.E. UK: https://localgiving.org/10in10
👉 Find out more about the S.H.E. UK 10 in 10 campaign:https://she-uk.org.uk/step-up-to-help-s-h-e-uk-help-us-raise-10000-in-10-days/
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, support is available. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. For confidential domestic abuse support in England, contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
