Survivors Research Group

Convened and chaired by Survivors Voices' ensuring that the research remains grounded in survivor-led principles and trauma-responsive practice, the PRG is made up of adult survivors of child sexual abuse who bring a wide range of lived experiences and perspectives to the project including survivor activism, a shared commitment to improving understanding and prevention of CSA, and ongoing support for survivors.

Through regular meetings and collaborative work, the PRG is central to developing a Survivor focussed approach to the research, with members working alongside researchers to co-produce all stages of the work, from developing archives, recording oral histories, creating resources, and public engagement activities, to ensuring the research remains grounded in survivor priorities, remains ethically informed, and focuses on long-term impact, including awareness, prevention, and pathways to justice.

Nell

Nell is a theatre practitioner and the founder of Response Ability Theatre: a survivor-led theatre and participation arts charity that supports and platforms people living with or at risk of post-traumatic stress, to lead on how stories like ours are told and learned from. She has guest lectured at University College London, Queen Mary University of London, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and the University of Warwick, and is soon to have a paper on the benefits of trauma-conscious theatre practices in academic research published in the first ever edition of the Theatre About Science journal.

Illustration of a girl within a gold cage surrounded by birds.

Sophie Olson

Sophie Olson is a survivor activist, founder of The Flying Child CIC, and author of The Flying Child. Through survivor-led training, campaigning, and support, The Flying Child aims to normalise conversations about the “unspeakable” across society, professional settings, and the survivor community. Sophie developed and leads Side by Side CSA, a programme that supports professionals to recognise and respond to child sexual abuse and its lifelong impacts. Sophie's work reflects survivor insight and evidence-based approaches. She highlights the limitations of viewing trauma solely through a diagnostic lens and advocates for compassionate, accessible, and human-centred support for all survivors, including those working in frontline roles.

Jon Bird

Jon Bird, PhD is a survivor of extra-familial CSA by several perpetrators. He was involved in NAPAC (https://napac.org.uk/) for 23 years, firstly for ten years on the board of trustees and then in various paid roles in middle management mainly involved in service delivery. This included managing the support line service during the period of the revelations about Jimmy Savile when NAPAC was the main signposted agency for support.

Maxi 'Leigh

Maxi 'Leigh is a survivor of childhood abuse and the Founder and Managing Director of Support for Survivors, a Nottingham-based charity providing specialist trauma-informed support to adult survivors of childhood abuse and trauma. What began as a small peer support group has grown into an award-winning organisation recognised locally and nationally for its innovative work supporting some of the most vulnerable members of society. Under Maxi-Leigh's leadership, Support for Survivors became the first and only specialist childhood sexual abuse charity in the UK to achieve the UKAS-accredited National Sexual Violence Standards, demonstrating excellence in survivor-centred services. Maxi 'Leigh sits on numerous local and national boards, contributes to policy and service development, delivers specialist training, public speaking, and uses both her lived and professional expertise to educate and to champion the voices of victims and survivors.