London, UK, July 14th 2017 – On Sunday 16th July, Louis Theroux, producer, filmmaker and broadcaster, will present an appeal on BBC Radio 4 on behalf of the male rape and sexual abuse charity SurvivorsUK.

On average it takes 26 years for a man to speak out about sexual abuse or rape. The appeal tells the story of John, who was sexually abused by his uncle from the age of 11 until he was 16. It took John almost 24 years to find the strength to tell someone about what happened and with the right support from SurvivorsUK he was finally able to see that he wasn’t to blame for it, and that life could get better.

Louis says: “We have certain stereotypes of men needing to be strong, that they should be able to pull themselves together and not speak about their emotions. I think that can be very damaging and those people who have a history of either being abused or who are survivors of assault, they need to know that they can speak up and be taken seriously and that they will be listened to.”

The charity hopes the BBC Radio 4 Appeal will raise valuable funds to help transform the lives of more men affected by sexual abuse and give them a safe space to talk and the specialist support they need.

“We are very grateful to Louis for presenting this appeal on behalf of our organisation,” said SurvivorsUK Director of Clinical Services & Acting Chief Executive Andy Connolly. “An estimated 12,000 men are raped every year in the UK and 76,000 are sexually abused or assaulted. Yet just 4% of these men will tell someone. SurvivorsUK wants to help end this silence by providing specialist support and a safe space where men will be listened to and believed. However we are entirely dependent on funding to make this a reality and we hope that people will understand the severity of the issue and help us give these men the support they deserve.”

The appeal on BBC Radio 4 will be broadcast at 7.55am on Sunday 16th July and will be repeated at 9.25pm on Sunday 16th and at 3.25pm on Thursday 20th July. It will also be available online on the BBC Radio 4 website.

ENDS

 

About SurvivorsUK

Registered charity SurvivorsUK provides specialist support to men who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Services include individual counselling (London based), telephone counselling (national), online helpline (national), ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor – London based) and groupwork (London based). SurvivorsUK also supports friends, partners and family members of victims/survivors.

 

For more information contact:

Andy Connolly – Client Services Director / Acting Chief Executive
[email protected]
T: 020 3598 3898
M: 07467 144346
SurvivorsUK
11 Sovereign Close
E1W 3HW London