The Secret He Kept for 19 Years: Something to Say | Hidden Safeguarding: What You Don’t See

<p>Jeremy was eight when the abuse ended. </p><p><br /></p><p>He was 27 before he spoke about it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Not because there was one obvious barrier stopping him.</p><p><br /></p><p>For years, there simply wasn’t a conversation around him that helped him understand that he had something to say.</p><p><br /></p><p>In our second episode of Hidden Safeguarding: What You Don’t See, Chris is joined by child sexual abuse survivor and campaigner Jeremy Indika for a conversation that challenges some of the safeguarding messages we’ve relied on for years.</p><p><br /></p><p>What if abuse doesn’t feel scary?</p><p><br /></p><p>What if a child experiencing it doesn’t look withdrawn or distressed?</p><p><br /></p><p>What if they’re happy, sociable, successful… and nobody suspects a thing?</p><p><br /></p><p>Jeremy didn’t fit the picture we’re often taught to look for.</p><p><br /></p><p>Together, they explore why grooming can feel like warmth, attention or even love. Why there may be no obvious signs. Why telling children to “tell someone” isn’t enough. And why young people need to know what will actually happen if they tell us.</p><p><br /></p><p>Because perhaps we’ve been asking:</p><p>“How will we know if something is wrong?”</p><p><br /></p><p>When we should be asking:</p><p>“Have we created an environment where they would tell us?”</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>About Jeremy</strong></p><p>Jeremy Indika is a male survivor of child sexual abuse who now shares his story in creative and powerful ways to raise awareness and challenge the stigma surrounding abuse.</p><p><br /></p><p>Through film, animation, illustration and speaking directly with children, young people and professionals, Jeremy is helping to create conversations around a subject that can still feel incredibly difficult to talk about.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Connect with Jeremy:</strong></p><p><a href="https://jeremyindika.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://jeremyindika.com/</a></p><p><strong></strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-indika-31673573/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>LinkedIn:</strong></a><strong> </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-indika-31673573/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><strong>https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-indika-31673573/</strong></a></p><p><br /></p><p>---</p><p><strong>Producers of this episode:</strong> Chris East, Leah East</p><p><strong>Host of this episode: </strong>Chris East</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Useful Links: </strong></p><ul><li><p><a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://buymeacoffee.com/cornerstonesafeguarding</a>  - Every coffee you buy helps us keep creating practical tools and content for safeguarding professionals like you</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>To find out more about Cornerstone Safeguarding - <a href="http://www.cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.CornerstoneSafeguarding.co.uk</a> </p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Email us at Cornerstone: <a href="mailto:info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">info@cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk</a></p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Book in a meeting to discuss your safeguarding needs: </p></li></ul><p><a href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ0ZwllED1_R0eAmzurUNbXW6dk92TtCp9BE8oysOnlPwBl3L2vNEooyvSJ3fQaQBk_q1onKflh4" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ0ZwllED1_R0eAmzurUNbXW6dk92TtCp9BE8oysOnlPwBl3L2vNEooyvSJ3fQaQBk_q1onKflh4</a></p><ul><li><p>Subscribe to Cornerstone Connect - </p></li></ul><p><a href="https://cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/resources/cornerstone-connect-sign-up/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://cornerstonesafeguarding.co.uk/resources/cornerstone-connect-sign-up/</a></p><p>- for fresh safegu