Former client speaks to Woman’s Hour about starting support group for those in ‘high control groups’
Our client, who was abused as a child in her Jehovah’s Witnesses community, has started a support group – Escape – to help those who want to leave “high control groups”.
She was the first in the UK to win a civil case for historical child sexual abuse against the religion she was brought up in, the details for this can be found here.
As our former client explains:
“Escape has been set up by two sisters who left the religious community in which they were brought up after enduring a childhood of emotional, psychological and sexual abuse at the hands of those within that community.
Having the support of each other was part of what enabled them to build a life outside of the community, realising that not everyone has this support is why Escape was founded. To provide support to others wanting, or who are forced, to leave a community. Whatever the reason you are leaving, it can be a confusing and turbulent time, we want to be a calm, safe space to explore your options outside of your former community. One of the options could be that you would like to return, we offer no pressure or judgement and only want to be somewhere for people to turn.”
You can hear our former client’s story of abuse, path to justice and strong desire to provide a safe community for others at 25:04 minutes in to the episode on BBC Sounds.
