In Hull today speaking to social workers with @Lads_Like_Us Danny & Jamie. Using the model of ‘heart, head and hands’, the brilliant Sarah Pritchard worked alongside us to explore how concepts fit into practice. Our stories highlighted how making a difference is possible when adults work with courage & creativity to meet the needs of the child. #Childsexualabuse #exploitation #WSWW2024 #WSWWHull #SocialWork

Seeing #TheFlyingChildStory recognised as current number 1 in Psychology and Violence category is particularly gratifying. Ironic, as it was a psychology degree I was thrown out of by a course lead unable to support me with #CSA trauma! The benefit of it doing well, is that it gets to those in the position of making change happen in their respective fields.

Link: shame.bbk.ac.uk/events/book-…

As always, I’m blown away by the support of the CSA Survivor community. The book launch is turning out to be an unexpected networking event with many of my lovely friends and fellow activists letting me know they are coming along 🙏🏼🤩 It’s a Tuesday night, in February - and at night… and some live very far away, so I thank each and every one making that journey. 🙏🏼 Still a few spaces left… Please join us. Free drinks. Great panel including @mellojonny @ShareClaw and @deltacane, and a discussion on the harmful silences around #CSA, the challenges of navigating the medical sphere and support services, and the importance of ‘looking beyond the label’. Free event but must register. #booklaunch #theflyingchildstory #acautionaryfairytaleforadults #CSA

A few of my illustrations are in The Flying Child - A Cautionary Fairy Tale for Adults. This one has the caption “the little princess was beginning to think grown-ups were quite stupid”. I remember as a child feeling like a curious onlooker in ‘The World’ full of adults that didn’t seem to see what was right in front of them. Does any other CSA survivor remember feeling like that? It’s a confusing place to grow up. #theflyingchildstory #acautionaryfairytale #CSA

12 days until the official launch of my book - The Flying Child - A Cautionary Fairy Tale for Adults. It is co-authored by Patricia Walsh and published by @ZunTold. Many thanks to @shme_bbk for hosting - it is an honour to be your final in-person event. There are many people involved in this event - my own WONDERFUL (and growing!!) Flying Child team, ZunTold and SHaME - and I'll acknowledge everyone in separate posts over the coming weeks but in the meantime I particularly want to acknowledge Dr Ruth Beecher and Rhea Sookdeosingh from @shme_bbk Thank you for making the process as stress-free and uncomplicated as possible - not as easy as it looks, especially when working with someone like me who wants to bring an 8ft blossom tree to the (central London venue!)🌸 Tickets are going fast! Thank you to everyone who has signed up - I know it's a trek for some of you and I can't wait to see you all. This is a public event and free, but must register. shame.bbk.ac.uk/events/book-… #TheFlyingChildStory #ACautionaryFairyTale #ACautionaryTale #TheFlyingChildBook #TheFlyingChild #CSA #ChildSexualAbuse #TherapyMemoir #booklaunchlondon #booklaunch2024 #booklaunching