Would you like to join our Wise Owls Advisory Group?
Our lived experience group comes together every 4 weeks to meet with the Recovery Practitioner Lead and the Project Co-ordinator at our office in Selkirk in order to help guide and shape the Survivors Unite services.
The group is open to anyone who has:
- been supported by Survivors Unite (or a similar organisation)
- finished their therapy journey for the present time.*
- is not currently receiving therapeutic support from Survivors Unite.*
*(although we understand that some people may need to return to therapy and we would support this.)
The aims of the group:
- Feeding back experiences of using our services to the Board of Trustees.
- Giving suggestions and helping to organise fundraising.
- Identifying gaps and suggesting development improvements to help other survivors.
- Reviewing publicity material such as our posters, leaflets and this website.
- Sharing knowledge and assisting with outreach events.
- Processing applications to our Social Welfare Fund.
How can the Wise Owls help you?
The Wise Owls are a small group of survivors who have been with our charity for a number of years. Collectively, they have a large amount of experience in relation to what it is like to travel through the 'towards recovery' journey.
Included in their experiences are:
- What its like to start the process.
- What its like to attend one to one counselling.
- What happens at the end of your counselling.
- Taking care of yourself before and after sessions.
- How to live each week as normally as possible, going to work and/or being a parent.
- The process of disclosing to the police.
- Attending court and going through the justice system (whether successful or not.)
- Being part of a support group.
- How to deal with the past, whilst building a new future.
- Learning to live while finding yourself.
And many other issues that come from having to live with the consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse.
The Lead Recovery Practitioner and Project Co-ordinator attend the wise owl group meetings as a way of supporting the group and can act as liason between SU and the tasks allocated to the group. If you need advice from a wise owl, please get in touch.
Inner Child Not Forgotten
This a basket of memories; a basket with photographs of younger selves.
These photographs have been donated to the basket by adult survivors who were part of our first Peer Support Group.
The collection was started in 2015. The idea was to remember their own inner child.
The basket is kept at our premises in Selkirk.
If anyone would like to add a photograph (anonymously if you wish) of their child self then please let us know.
The Wise Owls...
Les Newington
Barbara Caldicott
Barbara Caldicott
Les is an advocate for lived experience throughout the Borders, taking part in the Integrated Psychological Trauma Steering Group. He was instrumental in the setup of Survivors Unite and we welcome his knowledge and skills to the Wise Owls Advisory Group.
Barbara Caldicott
Barbara Caldicott
Barbara Caldicott
Barbara is a true example of how Survivors shape and guide our charity. A board member, and now a wise owl, Barbara's lived experience perspective informs our services and new initiatives planned by the group.
Elaine Shearman
Barbara Caldicott
Elaine Shearman
Elaine is someone who has benefited from accessing Survivors Unite and wishes to give back to the charity. She is a passionate and dedicated Survivor who is committed to making a difference and helping others.