Why Self-Help groups?
Self-help groups exist for many of life's challenges. They are run by and for people with a common experience, rather than professional experts.
By coming together, individuals can find (and give) support, strength, solidarity and voice. Self-help groups are not therapy or a substitute for professional/medical help.
S:VOX is the first organisation in the UK that exists to help develop a national network of self-help groups for abuse survivors who have experienced any form of abuse.
Who are S:VOX groups for?
The survivor groups are run by survivors for anyone who has experienced abuse as a child or adult e.g. child sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect, bullying, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault. If a person would find it difficult to attend a group alone and does not know another survivor who could accompany them, they can bring a supporter to the group initially. The survivor groups will remain focussed on survivors' needs if supporters are present.
The supporter groups are for anyone who is supporting a survivor of any type of abuse experienced as a child or adult. This could be a friend, spouse or partner, sibling, child, parent, foster carer, social/support worker etc. A supporter can bring a survivor to a group initially, if it helps them benefit from attending. The supporter groups will remain focussed on the supporters needs if survivors are present.
What are the aims of an S:VOX group?
- To provide a safe space for survivors of abuse and their supporters to talk, listen and be listened to
- To support each other in our healing and growth as human beings
- To help break the silence, shame and isolation surrounding abuse
- To help each other find strength and solidarity and to support each other in the process of recovering from the impact of abuse
- To help develop skills to be functional and effective in our relationship with ourselves and others
- To help develop positive coping strategies and skills
- To challenge negative patterns, denial and abusive behaviour, with sensitivity and care
- To have fun and laugh in the midst of healing.
What happens in an S:VOX group?
While the flavour and content will vary, the heart of each group is people sharing and listening to each other's thoughts and feelings in response to common themes and topics. No one is forced to speak; it is perfectly OK to just listen.
S:VOX provides group facilitators with different models and ideas to help start conversation and structure group meetings. The groups are also run within specific guidelines to make sure that they remain 'safe spaces' for everyone. These guidelines cover areas such as confidentiality and respect and the group facilitators are responsible for making sure these are maintained.
While S:VOX groups are normally mixed and inclusive, individual groups may decide to have special additional meetings to create a safe environment for discussing particular experiences, e.g.
- Meetings based around identity: e.g. male only, female only, faith-based, lesbian and gay
- Meetings based around type of abuse: e.g. domestic violence, child sexual abuse, pastoral or ritual abuse
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Meetings based around healing & recovery: e.g. self-care, parenting, self-harm, depression, dissociation
In situations where anonymity / safety are of concern, it may also be appropriate to run an S:VOX group as a closed, by-invitation-only group, e.g. in a refuge or prison.
Who runs the groups?
Each S:VOX group will be affiliated to the S:VOX national charity but run by a separately constituted local group. Normally, 3 people are needed to set up and facilitate a local group. S:VOX provides training, support, tools and information to help them. People who attend an S:VOX group can become members of their local group and help support and shape the group's activities. Pre-existing self-help groups can affiliate if they feel able to sign and work within the S:VOX affiliation agreement. S:VOX would welcome existing groups to join the network and increase our voice as we all work together.
If you are interested in either setting up a new group, affiliating an existing one or attending a group in your area (if and when there is one), get in touch with us via the Contact Us page
There is currently an affiliated group running in the London area. We also have good contact with Inspire, a Derby based group. Please contact us for information about joining either group
