These are some of the experiences of child sexual abuse shared with the Truth Project by victims and survivors. All names and identifying details have been changed.
Download a PDF sample of accountsread full account of Samanthas experienceSamantha always thought it was her fault when she was sexually abused
The sexual abuse that Samantha endured as a child has had a devasting effect on her mental and physical health.
However, she still feels that her experience was ‘minor’ in comparison to others she has heard about.
read full account of Freddies experienceFreddie’s abuser was a teacher with influence in the church, local businesses and sports teams
Freddie’s abuser was a teacher whose power and influence extended into the church, a business and a sports team in the local area. He feels this network of control made it easier for the man to abuse many young people.
After his parents divorced, Freddie did not see his mum for a long time and his dad worked long hours to provide for him and his siblings. The church was a big influence on the family and Freddie attended a faith school.
read full account of Kierons experienceKieron did not think anyone would believe that a respected teacher was abusing him
Kieron was raped by a teacher at his boarding school.
The abuser told him he would be ‘letting people down’ if he told anyone.
read full account of Ivans experienceIvan feels that support services are not equipped to deal with male victims of child sexual abuse
Ivan was sent to an institution in the 1970s for ‘maladjusted boys’.
Here, all the children were completely at the mercy of the staff, most of whom were sexual abusers.
read full account of Marams experienceMaram says ‘I was vulnerable with no protection from people who were supposed to look after me’
Maram spent her childhood and teenage years in the care system, where she suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
She feels strongly that institutions must be held accountable for failing to protect children.
read full account of Timothys experienceTimothy says youth workers are important for young people, but they must be carefully checked
Timothy describes his family background as ‘quite underprivileged’.
He was targeted for sexual abuse by a football coach, who began by grooming him with gifts and outings that his family could not have afforded.
read full account of Niges experienceNige was subjected to extreme neglect and abuse, but a psychiatrist labelled him ‘delinquent’
Nige grew up in appalling conditions at home, deprived of basic necessities.
He suffered further abuse in the care system, including rape.
read full account of Rufuss experienceRufus says ‘It still confuses me how he did it, but he managed to get complete control of me’
Rufus was groomed and sexually abused by a youth leader.
Terrified of the man, but also enthralled by him, Rufus says ‘I’d do anything he asked’.
read full account of Hollies experienceHollie wants to say to social services ‘You failed me. Don’t fail others’
Hollie was sadistically abused by her mother from as far back as she can remember, until she was in her mid-teens.
She relates a horrifying catalogue of cruelty and verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse that was overlooked by social services, teachers and many other adults.
read full account of Bretts experienceBrett wants to acknowledge what happened to him in the past, then try and be positive
Brett was sexually abused by a teacher at a faith boarding school.
His parents were pleased that he won a scholarship to attend the school, and he thinks this is one reason why he felt unable to speak out about the abuse.
read full account of Jo-anns experienceJo-ann says that having a kind husband and good friends helps her cope with the impacts of abuse
Jo-ann’s parents encouraged their children to visit a neighbour who was lonely.
This man sexually abused and raped Jo-ann and she finds it difficult to accept that he was never brought to justice.
read full account of Lucindas experienceLucinda says she only recently ‘stopped beating myself up and thinking it was all my fault’
Lucinda’s parents immigrated to the UK in the 1960s.
They relied on lodgers to look after their children when they were at work. Two of these people sexually abused Lucinda, and she felt guilty about the tension this caused in the family.