Break the Silence

09/06/2026

We’re proud to share that our Chief Executive of Clinical, Sharon Belshaw, has had a quote included in The Strength of Resilience by Fatima Whitbread MBE.

Sharon was invited to the book launch where she had the pleasure of meeting Fatima and other contributors involved in this important project. It was a meaningful opportunity to celebrate voices and experiences that reflect the power of resilience, connection and shared understanding.

We’re especially pleased that this book is supporting a charitable cause close to Fatima’s heart.

The Strength of Resilience is available on Amazon.

08/06/2026

We are aware that a TV drama is currently running a storyline which clients may find extremely upsetting or triggering, so we'd like to remind you about The Survivors Trust tips for consuming distressing media content on our website:https://www.breakthesilence.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/triggeringmediatips.pdf
You can also call The Survivors Trust Helpline - a free, national helpline 7 days a week for people aged 16+ affected by r**e, sexual abuse or sexual violence: https://thesurvivorstrust.org/our-helpline/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22888781251&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0JnRBhDJARIsALobnXao1FDCXQy2TqQVKvRUjZrw0w8GAG1LyLP2bz7-rbB-QbJLZT_e5gsaAiG6EALw_wcB

05/06/2026

This , we acknowledge the hard work and contributions of our amazing voluntary board of trustees. Find out more about our trustees who work so hard behind the scenes to strengthen our charity. https://www.breakthesilence.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/trustees/

03/06/2026

Volunteers don’t just give their time: they help shape how people are cared for.✨

As we mark Volunteers’ Week, we’re recognising the contribution of Dr Geraldine Butcher, retired Consultant Midwife and long-standing volunteer with Break the Silence. Through her work, she has helped raise awareness of the importance of trauma-informed care within maternity services. 🩺

For survivors of childhood sexual abuse, pregnancy and birth can be particularly vulnerable times. The way care is delivered, the language used, the level of understanding, and the sense of safety created, can make a lasting difference. For more on this, see our recent BLOG: Trauma and its Impact on the Maternity Experience https://www.breakthesilence.org.uk/blog-trauma-and-its-impact-on-the-maternity-experience/

While awareness has grown over time, trauma-informed practice is not yet embedded everywhere. 🌱 Ongoing training and learning are essential to ensure that all midwives and maternity care staff feel confident and equipped to support survivors with sensitivity and care.

Geraldine’s work has contributed to this conversation - helping to open up learning opportunities, strengthen links between services, and highlight why this approach matters.

But there is still more to do. Continued investment in trauma-informed training is key to ensuring that every woman is met with understanding at one of the most important moments in her life.

19th May 2026 BLOG: Trauma and its impact on the maternity experience By Dr Geraldine Butcher, Consultant Midwife (retired) and Jen Richards, Break the Silence Pregnancy and birth are significant life events, the cause for much excitement and celebration, and yet for some women they also bring feeli...

01/06/2026

How does our charity make sure our work truly supports the people we’re here to help? 🤔

The answer is by placing survivor voices at the heart of everything we do. Not as an add-on, but as a guiding principle.

This Volunteers’ Week, we’re saying a heartfelt thank you to our Client-Led Advisory Group for the vital role they play in shaping Break the Silence. 🙏

Their insight ensures that what we do is not only well-intentioned, but relevant and responsive to the needs of survivors.

Recently, our client-led group supported the development of our new website - sharing their views on how it should look and feel, what’s important for people coming to the site for the first time, and making suggestions about how we communicate in ways that are clear, respectful, and trauma-informed. 💭

We are deeply grateful for the time, care, and insight they bring. Their contribution helps us continue to grow and deliver services that put the needs of survivors front-and-centre of all we do. 💜

https://www.breakthesilence.org.uk/

26/05/2026

21/05/2026

While pregnancy and birth are usually joyful milestones, for survivors of sexual abuse, the maternity experience can be overwhelming, with the risk of past trauma being triggered in ways that are hard to predict or explain.

In recognition of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re sharing a thoughtful blog written by Break the Silence volunteer and retired Consultant Midwife, Dr Geraldine Butcher.

In it, she gently examines how trauma can shape pregnancy and birth, and how trauma-informed care that is care rooted in choice, safety, and trust can make a meaningful difference to the woman’s experience.

Read Geraldine’s article here:
https://www.breakthesilence.org.uk/blog-trauma-and-its-impact-on-the-maternity-experience/

19th May 2026 BLOG: Trauma and its impact on the maternity experience By Dr Geraldine Butcher, Consultant Midwife (retired) and Jen Richards, Break the Silence Pregnancy and birth are significant life events, the cause for much excitement and celebration, and yet for some women they also bring feeli...

20/05/2026

Only 4 days left to nominate Break the Silence for a chance to be awarded £5000 in support of our work helping survivors of childhood abuse. The form takes a mere moment to complete - please consider nominating us today 😃

Nominate a charity for a Movement for Good award now.

18/05/2026

We’re pleased to share that we’ve successfully achieved our Cyber Essentials Assurance certification. This is an important milestone for our organisation and reflects our ongoing commitment to keeping our systems, data, and the people we support safe and secure.

Cyber security is more important than ever, and the Cyber Essentials Assurance process has been a valuable opportunity to strengthen our practices and ensure we’re meeting high standards. A big thank you to John at NetFocus ICT Limited for his expert support and guidance.

14/05/2026

Yesterday, our team at Break the Silence took time to pause, rest, and reconnect. A timely nod to Mental Health Awareness Week.

Our remote team came together for a guided soundbath session - a calm, supportive space designed to step away from our busy everyday work and simply be for a while. For many of us who work alongside people affected by trauma, taking moments like this is an important part of looking after our own wellbeing too.

The session offered a gentle, restful experience using soothing sounds from crystal singing bowls and chimes, alongside a guided relaxation. There was no pressure to participate in any particular way - just an opportunity to feel comfortable and grounded.

Mental Health Awareness Week is a reminder that wellbeing matters for all of us, and that rest is not a luxury, but a real need.

We’re grateful to our leadership team for curating the opportunity and to Magee for delivering such a lovely session 💜