Rape And Abuse Victim Help

Lest We Forget: A letter to my child-self

In Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, there is a phrase for someone who has acted wrongly, immorally or without thought: “He has forgotten the face of his father”. I have no father whose face to remember. I will not forget your face. I will honour your courage, your fortitude, your absolute determination to survive. When the nightmares come, I will not remember his face, his hands, his breath: I will...

To Dad: Two Unsent Letters

24th October 2000 O yes you live in that dark world But you can’t reach me It’s only the waking world that’s open to your charms O father, do you think you can fool anyone anymore? I see my writing gets smaller the more to the right I get – is that a sign? You hide forever in your shadows but I’ll seek you out, fear not Justice goes far beyond our ability to comprehend her BUT I would kill you...

Moggy’s Story

Lucy was a little girl who was blonde and had blue eyes. Lucy had a sister called Karen, and a Mummy and a Daddy. Lucy loved her Mummy because she cuddled her and told her she was her baby. Lucy loved Karen too but sometimes they would fight, when Karen teased her about being stupid and not being able to do maths, and add up properly. Lucy wanted her Daddy to love her too but she knew he didn’t think she was very clever...

Kaz’s Story

Author’s note: I originally wrote the story of my abuse as a story, in the third person. I could not relate directly to the things that had happened to me, or bear to acknowledge the pain I felt, now or then. The original story as presented on this site was very personal and detailed. Now I feel it has served its purpose as a healing tool for me and so I now present a “condensed” account of my abuse during...

Survivor Links

The following collection of links represents a selection of places to go for further information. Some of these are personal stories from survivors, whilst others are of a more informational nature.

False Memory Syndrome

The article “A reply to the False Memory Syndrome Foundation” by John Backus, Sc.D., and Barbara Una Stannard, Ph.D. is offered here for download in Word format (you will need WinZip to unpack this file) by permission of the authors. Download article (48kb) Other useful and interesting articles on the validity of repressed memories can be found at Astreas...

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RIP Patrick Barr 1958 – 2009

It is with regret that we announce the sad passing of Patrick Barr, former founder member of Safe Haven and my previous husband, on 23rd April 2009. Patrick died very suddenly at his home in Cardiff which he shared with his partner of two years and their respective sons. Although Patrick and I had our differences in the last few years, I had enormous respect for his strength of will and courage in facing his own issues and reaching out to other survivors. He will be greatly missed by many, including his son, Simon. Anyone wishing for more details can feel free to email me.