By The Disobedient Survivors
Fuck filling out monitoring and evaluation forms, fuck being asked leading questions on feedback forms, fuck numbering from 1-10 my improvement and recovery from trauma each week, fuck being made into a case study, fuck being told I can’t use my real name when sharing my experience, fuck seeing my identity on leaflets as a shadow or pair of hands covering a face, fuck being told what I can and can’t say and limiting what I can talk about in support groups, fuck being told what will trigger me, fuck being told what coping strategies are healthy and unhealthy, fuck being given a time limit to heal, fuck 2 year waiting lists, fuck having to report to get certain support, fuck being given false information about the reality of reporting, fuck you taking case notes about me, fuck having to show up every week or be threatened with support being dropped, fuck your sterile boundaries, fuck your corporate and patronising language, fuck not employing survivors, fuck not paying survivors for our time and energy when you need it for your promo, fuck the lack of specialist support in your services (e.g. support for disabled survivors, trans survivors, survivors of colour, refugee survivors, queer survivors, working class survivors etc.), fuck your inability to adapt, change or actually listen to what survivors need, fuck your shitty biscuits and weak-ass tea, fuck your ridiculous support plans, fuck you risk managing our lives and micro managing our safety, fuck overworking and underpaying your staff, fuck valuing education and training over lived experience, fuck your useless diversity policy and fuck your compliance with the establishment and lack of passion to make real change.
Disclaimer:
We are not saying all services are shit or that they shouldn’t exist. They are very much needed and vital to many of us recovering trauma. We have both had incredible support from individuals within support services and worked alongside some amazing support workers/case workers. We are not intending to devalue anyone’s positive experiences within support services and are always so happy when people receive the right support for them. We just know that many survivors feel let down and unheard within current services. This call out is to acknowledge the problems many of us have faced when using or being part of certain organisations. We need different systems, different structures, different funding and more appropriate support. We also want to acknowledge and celebrate all the amazing resilient people who are working tirelessly within these structures, trying to make a difference despite having to work within systems they don’t agree with. You are fucking great and we need you!