Patrons

After a meeting with Jacki Pritchard and Janice Ward, in which they described their work with adult survivors of abuse, I was left feeling both inspired and humbled by their selfless dedication.

Adult survivors of abuse seem to be a group of people sadly neglected by society and in terms of funding and therapeutic aid.

Beyond Existing’s method of helping these people heal through regular meetings, where they can talk over their experiences and are encouraged to express themselves creatively through writing and art, is admirable and imaginative, and I am proud to be a patron

Lesley Glaister, Author

 

I have personal experience of the kind of issues members of Beyond Existing have experienced.

I have seen the impact first hand if this is not dealt with correctly. I met with members and have seen the results of the great work Beyond Existing does.

It is a real honour to have been asked to be a patron of Beyond Existing

Richard McCann, Author and Professional Speaker

 

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BEYOND EXISTING celebrates 10 years of healing

Joseph Rowntree FoundationA party was held on 10th July 2010 in Castleford Civic Centre to celebrate a decade of work with victims of abuse; the event was sponsored by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Event Photos - Click to Enlarge

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As a JRF manager, the projects I manage have titles like – a “Homelessness Commission”, where all the commissioners are, themselves, homeless people; “Personalisation and Rough Sleepers”; “A Social Model of Madness and Distress”. Each has challenging titles, and yet I find them life affirming … sometimes cheering … because you see the honesty and sometimes even the humour of people in very difficult circumstances.

People fully acknowledge the challenges and barriers they face in their lives … they are not naïve about this at all … and yet life is much more than this. A disabled man faced with all of the assumptions and images about disabled people’s lives has reminded us – “do remember” he said, “I’m just a bloke.”

The most important thing to say about these projects is that the people are at the centre of them. Their lives are personally rather than professionally defined.

Today was the anniversary … a party … of a project JRF funded more than 10 years ago about adults who have been abused (physically, sexually, emotionally, financially ….). Among the 50 people attending all of life was there – shy, tattooed, attractive, muscular, youthful, old aged – none of the individuals would have stood out in the everyday street. These were not over-practiced in influencing policy makers, nor polished by attending too many conferences or seminars nor blunted by repeating the same old tired strategies. It was a humorous, affectionate, passionate, raw, tearful, understated day; from the inspirational speaker to the local poets to the resonantly voiced musician.

The project – Beyond Existing – acknowledges the strengths that people can have, and people’s own definitions of an ordinary life, as well as truthfully recognising the very difficult issues people have had to face. It is life affirming.

At a time when organisations are transfixed, immobilised by budget cuts, I also have to hold up Jacki Pritchard as an exemplar. I have never come across anyone who will so squeeze every pound until it gives up. And the people who have been abused (aged from 19 to 90) support each other – very visibly so, a hand to hold while speaking in public about difficult issues – and then become the facilitators and support for others.

The project itself exists on a micro-budget. The funding we provided for their event was more than their budget for the year. And yet the effect they are able to have in so many people’s lives is authentic – you can’t fake that sort of impact.

Given the world that many of us work in, it should grab your attention and make you stop to think.

Alex O'Neil
Programme Manager
Policy and Research Department
Joseph Rowntree Foundation, The Homestead, 40 Water End, York, YO30 6WP