There are hundreds if not thousands of books that have been written by survivors, detailing the abuse they experienced, and how they came out of it. These stories can make for difficult reading, but they do show the hope of healing that survivors have. Telling their story, is often part of that healing.

Below, is a selection of these books, which cross all demographics of society.

Punished – A mother’s Cruelty, A Daughter’s Survival – A Secret that Couldn’t be Told by Vanessa Steel

Nowhere to Belong : Punished for the colour of her skin by Harmony Brookes

Unloved : The True Story of a Stolen Childhood by Peter Roche

Dance for your Daddy : The True Story of a Brutal East End Childhood by Katherine Shellduck

Tears at Bedtime by Andrew Crofts and Tom Wilson

Ma, He Sold me for a few Cigarettes by Martha Long

Sold: A Young girl betrayed by her Mother into a life of Vice by Tess Stevens

Scarred – She was a slave to her father. Pain was her only escape by Sophie Andrews

Mummy, Make it Stop by Louise Fox

Mummy Knew : A Terrifying step-father. A Mother who refused to listen. A Little girl desperate to escape by Lisa James

Silenced : Raped by my Brother, Pregnant at Twelve, too Terrified to tell by Vicky Jagger

Trust No-one by Teresa Cooper

There are more and more reports being published about the extent of child sexual abuse, including intrafamilial abuse, which is abuse that happens within the family environment. Some of these reports have been published by Government Depts, and according to one “the UK child protection system is far from child centred and is concerned with meeting targets at the expense of listening to and protecting children”. Source – Intrafamilial Abuse: It’s a lonely journey (2014)

Here are a few informative reports, with recommendations that need to be actioned, and not just as a pilot.

Protecting Children from Harm: Nov 2015 –   This report shows the extent of CSA and highlights how most children are not helped at all.

Making Noise: April 2017 – This report focuses on children and young people’s views and experiences of seeking help after CSA in the family environment, and why they find it difficult to report the abuse.

Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation: Feb 2017 – This provides an update on what programmes are being put in place, there are some good ideas here, but they are often pilots, and help only a tiny percentage of the children that are being abused. It allows the Government to say they are doing something though.

The role of schools in Preventing CSA: April 2017 – Let’s hope these findings are put in place, if past experience is anything to go by, most of it will not be done.