"It's not up to a child to prevent their own abuse." Read it again. And again. And again. The culture that allows abuse needs changing.

The Flying Child@theflyingchild.bsky.social · 2y ago

The first things said when I disclosed #CSA were “why didn’t you say anything?” and “we thought he was ‘like that’ but we tried our best to keep him away from you.” People looked the other way. My story is not unique. It’s not up to a CHILD to prevent their own abuse. #16daysofactivism #CSA

Great day yesterday filming for Ton Mazzone’s documentary #Traumality

Just read yet another AI written post, and then I went down a rabbit hole of reading AI generated replies and AI generated replies to the AI replies. Robots talking to each other. I’m not just 🤯… I’m 🤯🤯. And yes, that is a half-hearted attempt at an AI joke. I miss people’s voices.

@carolinederry.bsky.social and I have written about our research for @theconversation.com doi.org/10.64628/AB....

The Victorian sex abuse scandal that shocked Britain and changed the law – long before Epstein

MPs were forced to respond, passing legislation which raised the age at which girls could consent to sexual intercourse from 13 to 16.

doi.org

Also, telling a survivor that they have to forgive their abuser? Fuck right off into the sun with yourself:

The Flying Child@theflyingchild.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Blog about shame, from the perspective of a CSA survivor “By all means, tell me it’s an option not to carry that shame. That, I might need to hear. But don’t tell me I ‘shouldn’t’ or ‘mustn’t’ feel it, as that would be a bit, well…shaming.” www.theflyingchild.com/post/don-t-s...

Exactly. Especially these "no healing without forgiveness" people. I have never forgiven my abusers. I have worked hard to heal and helped some fellow survivors to do the same, simply by listening and honoring their feelings.

Blog about shame, from the perspective of a CSA survivor “By all means, tell me it’s an option not to carry that shame. That, I might need to hear. But don’t tell me I ‘shouldn’t’ or ‘mustn’t’ feel it, as that would be a bit, well…shaming.” www.theflyingchild.com/post/don-t-s...

Don’t Shame the Shame

Child sexual abuse is wings plucked from a butterfly. It is being watched as you crawl in the dirt by the ones who kicked you there. The impacts are lifelong, but a better response to victims and surv...

theflyingchild.com

New resources for adult survivors The CSA Centre has created this page with resources for adult survivors of CSA. It looks great!

The Flying Child are a cause very close to my heart. They deliver a CSA survivor and practitioner training programme to education, social care and healthcare. It's a survivor led organisation and they are struggling for funding. Do help if you can. www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Help raise £500 to donate to The Flying Child – JustGiving Crowdfunding

Iʼm raising money to donate to The Flying Child . Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

justgiving.com

Thank you @patriciamwennell.bsky.social and @jomo14729.bsky.social for taking the time to read my manuscript. This feedback has made my heart sing ♥️ #SecondBook #middlegrade

It’s like every word I never said is tumbling out of me. Today.

Not sure if I'm doing this right but I've joined #Substack. Come and join me! And please tell me how to join you... substack.com/@theflyingwr... #booksky @nicolecaroli.bsky.social @patriciadebney.com @csarepsprojectucd.bsky.social

Sophie Olson | Substack

Sophie Olson is a speaker and author of The Flying Child (ZunTold) and founder of The Flying Child. She writes about life, love, death and the tangled in-between, and is working on a middle-grade book...

substack.com

Forgot my password for ages. Just found it again. #Perimenopause is no joke. Hello.

The Flying Child@theflyingchild.bsky.social · 2y ago

My name is Sophie. I’m a survivor of intrafamilial child sexual abuse. I’m a writer, activist and founder of The Flying Child CIC. I don’t show my face on social media for safety reasons as the perpetrator is still a risk to me. Lovely to see familiar faces finding this account! #CSASurvivorSky

Overview and 1st findings on how general audiences engage with fiction which depicts CSA' To register and receive the link for the webinar, please email ainsvr2023@gmail.com @hazelklarkin.bsky.social @ailise-bulfin.bsky.social @drcisme.bsky.social @johndbnldn.bsky.social @theflyingchild.bsky.social

CSAReps Project is delighted to annouce we will present at the SCSMI conference in June in Amsterdam @ailise-bulfin.bsky.social @hazelklarkin.bsky.social @sophiefranklin.bsky.social @theflyingchild.bsky.social @drcisme.bsky.social @brenrooney.bsky.social www.scsmi-online.org/conference

The workshop includes flash-talk presentations followed by Q&A sessions, with a roundtable discussion on the connections between violence, health, and the (health) @sophiefranklin.bsky.social @ailise-bulfin.bsky.social @brenrooney.bsky.social @hazelklarkin.bsky.social @theflyingchild.bsky.social

CSAReps is also delighted to announce we will present at The Conference of the International Society for the Study of Narrative conferences.au.dk/narrative2026 @ailise-bulfin.bsky.social @hazelklarkin.bsky.social @sophiefranklin.bsky.social @theflyingchild.bsky.social @drcisme.bsky.social

CSAReps Project is delighted to annouce we will present at the SCSMI conference in June in Amsterdam @ailise-bulfin.bsky.social @hazelklarkin.bsky.social @sophiefranklin.bsky.social @theflyingchild.bsky.social @drcisme.bsky.social @brenrooney.bsky.social scsmi-online.org/conference

Next writing group for adult survivors of child sexual abuse starting in February! Date: 2nd Feb Day: Mondays Time: 12.30-2pm 6 week, online course. FREE! Please get in touch! Groups@theflyingchild.com @TNLComFund

I just absentmindedly asked a colleague if they could ‘check for spelloes’ instead of typos or spellcheck. I think it’s my new favourite word.

A lovely letter to All Survivors....Wishing You much peace, support, and self-care this Christmas. 🌟😍🌟

Thank you to the survivor community for your support this year. Please take a moment to read our ‘Year in Review.’ We couldn’t do this work without this support. Thank you 🌸 theflyingchild.com/so/f2Pit776t?l…

Thank you Bear for this piece. I know it's difficult, but raising the facts about child sexual abuse within the family still appears taboo. @theflyingchild.bsky.social is worth following for insight into a whole swathe of violence against girls (in particular) .

“This is not a blog to debate whether or not survivors of #CSA within the family should cut off contact with their families. It’s a post to acknowledge that neither decision is easy. Both come with challenges - mainly a huge amount of sadness or grief” www.theflyingchild.com/post/dear-su... #csa

Dear Survivor at Christmas: A Survivor's Take on Surviving Christmas

This is not a blog to debate whether or not survivors of CSA within the family should or shouldn't cut off all contact with their families. It’s a post to acknowledge that neither decision is an easy ...

theflyingchild.com

glad to be a speaker for this panel event about #boundaries - a topic I have LOTS of thoughts & feelings about! with @theflyingchild.bsky.social & Survivors' Voices www.theflyingchild.com/event-details/boundaries-or-barbed-wire-a-dangerous-tool #counselling #therapy #retraumatisation

Boundaries or Barbed Wire - a dangerous tool? | The Flying Child

theflyingchild.com

I’m currently writing workshops for #midwives and #healthvisitors. The aim is to increase understanding of how CSA can shape pregnancy and early parenting experiences, supporting greater awareness and empathetic practice. They will take place in Jan as part of a wider programme #survivorparenting

Today it was our Beyond Labels workshop. Dr Lucy Johnstone & I worked with attendees to reframe the narrative - looking at an alternative approach to medicalising trauma. Everyone was very engaged, and discussion was valuable. #SideBySideCSA #16daysofactivism #csa @recovery-histories.bsky.social

#16DaysOfActivism Support for survivors of CSA isn’t solely about 50 minutes in therapy rooms, support groups and guilty verdicts. Therapy and groups end. Court cases re-traumatise. Regardless of verdict, the trauma still exists. 1/