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Women of Flowers; Reporting historical sexual abuse; Childcare; Male bulimia

Jenni Murray presents the start of a new series looking at reporting historical abuse. Also, playwright Kaite O'Reilly discusses her new play Woman of Flowers.

The start of a new series looking at reporting historical abuse. Why do people decide to report abuse which may have happened decades before; how are their complaints investigated, what happens to them in the courts and what effect does all of this have on their lives? Yvonne Traynor of Rape Crisis and Debbie Grafham, who decided in her 40s to report her abuse as a child, discuss. The 'arms race' on childcare policy for all the major political parties - why is it seen as only a women's issue? Playwright Kaite O'Reilly on her new play Woman of Flowers, which stars Sophie Stone, the first deaf woman to graduate from RADA. Men with bulimia - why are the numbers of men reporting this eating disorder rising? Jenni Murray presents.

Presenter: Jenni Murray
Producer: Eleanor Garland.

Available now

54 minutes

Chapters

  • Historic Sexual Abuse and Assault

    A new series which looks at the reasons and the process of reporting historic sex crimes.

    Duration: 13:19

  • Woman of Flowers

    A modern take on an ancient Welsh myth.

    Duration: 06:14

  • Conference Fringes 2014 - Childcare

    The main political parties have identified childcare as a key issue for women voters.

    Duration: 11:54

  • Bulimia and Men

    Over the past ten years hospital admissions for men with all eating disorders has risen.

    Duration: 06:33

Historic Sexual Abuse and Assault

Following the number of high-profile cases of historic rape and sexual abuse over the past two years, Woman’s Hour embarks on a series that takes a close look at the reasons and the process of reporting historic sex crimes.Why do people decide to report abuse which may have happened decades before? How are their complaints investigated? What happens to them in the courts? And what effect does all of this have on their lives?

To launch the series, Jennitalks to Yvonne Traynor, of Rape Crisis, and Debbie Grafham, who decided to report the sexual abuse she suffered as a child when she was in her forties. She has published an account of her abuse called A Sister's Secret.

If you have been affected by this series we've provided a list of organisations which offer advice and support. For more information you canvisit bbc.co.uk/actionline, or call the tv Action Line to hear recorded information on 0800 077 077. Lines are open 24 hours are calls are free from most landlines. Some networks and mobile operators will charge for these calls.

is the UK’s free, 24-hour confidential helpline for children and young people who need to talk. Trained counsellors are there to provide comfort, support and advice about any problem that’s on your mind. Contact them 24 hours a day, every day, by phone or via their website.

Helpline: 0800 1111 (calls are free from all existing networks – landline and mobile)

is a charity that offers support, advice and guidance to adult survivors of any form of childhood abuse.

Phone: 0800 085 3330

is available for anyone struggling to cope round the clock, every single day of the year. They provide a safe place to talk where calls are completely confidential. Get in touch by phone or email or find the details for the local branch online

Phone: 08457 90 90 90

Email: jo@samaritans.org

is a charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. The charity has a free anonymous 24/7 helpline that provides help, advice and support to adults worried about a child.

Helpline: 0808 800 5000

Text: 88858

Email: help@nspcc.org.uk

works alongside parents and carers of children who are – or are at risk of being – sexually exploited by perpetrators external to the family, as well as offering guidance and training to professionals on how child sexual exploitation affects the whole family. Pace seeks to enable parents and carers to safeguard and stop their children being sexually exploited, works with parents and partners to disrupt and bring perpetrators to justice, and aims to influence national and local policy and practice.

Phone: 0113 240 3040

is accessible 365 days a year to women calling from anywhere in England and Wales who have survived any form of sexual violence, no matter how long ago, offering specialised, confidential support, information and referral details completely free of charge. The helpline is also available to provide an immediate source of support to friends and family of survivors, as well as other professionals, to understand how best to support female survivors of sexual violence.

Helpline: 0808 802 9999

For Counselling, Advocacy Support and information: 0208 683 3311 (weekdays 10am-6pm)

has over 130 member agencies based in the UK and Ireland which provide specialist support for women, men and children who are survivors of rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse.

Email: info@thesurvivorstrust.org

provides information, support and counselling for men who have been raped or sexually abused.

Phone: 0845 122 1201 (Monday & Tuesday evenings 7pm-9.30pm; Thursday afternoons 12 noon-2:30pm)

provides a national rape crisis helpline for anyone affected by sexual violence, no matter when or how it happened. The helpline offers free and confidential crisis support and information. They can also put you in touch with local rape crisis centres or other services for ongoing support.

Phone: 0808 801 03 02

Email: support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

works across Northern Ireland to respond to the needs of survivors of sexual violence. They offer counselling to victims of rape, sexual violence and sexual abuse. Contact your local Nexus office by phone or email to arrange counselling or to ask for more information.

Nexus NI: 028 9032 6803

Email: info@nexusni.org

If you’ve been a victim or witness of any crime you can get emotional and practical help from Victim Support, whether or not it has been reported to the police.

Phone: 0845 30 30 900

offers emotional and practical support to all victims and witnesses of crime across Scotland.

Supportline: 0845 603 9213.

offers emotional and practical support to all victims and witnesses of crime across Northern Ireland.

Phone: 02890 244 039 or Victim Support Line: 0845 30 30 900

Woman of Flowers

What happens when you want a different life to the one chosen for you and when ? This is the question at the heart of a new play ‘’ by the award winning playwright Kaite O’Reilly. It's a modern take onan ancient Welsh myth -astory of poverty, domestic violence, betrayal and the lies we tell ourselves in order to justify our actions. Jenni is joined by Kate O’Reilly and the lead actress Sophie Stone, the first ever Deaf student to win a place at RADA.

Woman of Flowers is showing at the Pleasance Theatrein Islington until Wednesday24th September,before going until 25 October 2014.

Conference Fringes 2014 - Childcare

Fringe events, debates in an informal atmosphere,take place away from the main conference stage, where politicians and party members gather with the experts and interested parties, who seek to influence them, to thrash out some of the issues. At this week’s Labour Party conference there are over 450 of them. We went along to the Fabian Women’s Network, a panel discussion on ‘Can Labour Deliver on Universal Childcare?’ to hear about the issues it wrestled with.And with each of the main political parties has identified childcare as a key issue for women voters at next year’s election. Jenni talks to Kitty Stewart, Associate Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics, and Samantha Callan, Associate Director for Families and Mental Health at the Centre for Social Justice.

Bulimia and Men

Last week cricketer Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff spoke publicly about battling bulimia at the height of his cricketing career. It’s unusual to hear a high profile man owning up publicly to bulimia – because are mostly associated with women, specifically young women, who are concerned with their body image.Over the past ten years hospital admissions for men with all eating disorders has risen. A report for the BMJ earlier this year said that men with eating disorders aren't getting the help they need - because so many people think only women are affected. So what’s behind the increase and why is it such a problem?We talk to Professor Janet Treasure, Professor of Psychiatry and a consultant psychiatrist and Sam Thomas – had bulimia from the age of 13 and founded the charity .

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Producer Eleanor Garland
Interviewed Guest Yvonne Traynor
Interviewed Guest Debbie Grafham
Interviewed Guest Samantha Callan
Interviewed Guest Kitty Stewart
Interviewed Guest Kaite O'Reilly
Interviewed Guest Sophie Leigh Stone
Interviewed Guest Janet Treasure
Interviewed Guest Sam Thomas

Broadcast

  • Wed 24 Sep 2014 10:00

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