Abuse survivor and music producer curate free arts event

Other Words for Anger will draw from personal accounts of survival and CSE in Rotherham.

The survivor, who uses the pseudonym T, said the evening will be the first time she has expressed her feelings since the high-profile Crown Court trial, which saw six men jailed for over 81 years in February 2017.

She was subjected to horrific abuse, vilified by national media and repeatedly let down by local agencies after she was made pregnant aged 12.

T, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “I’ve wanted to do this before my trial started, but my mental health went down a lot after my trial ended.

“I have just started to bring myself back up and decided this is the time to express my feelings and the best way to do that is to celebrate me being a survivor.”

The senior youth worker and CSE campaigner said her idea was made possible after bumping into old schoolfriend Rian Treanor, who is now a successful artist and music producer.

“He is the main organiser. I've never done anything like this before, but he has,” said T.

The event will be at the Old Market Gallery, Market Street, on Friday, June 29, from 7pm to 11pm.

The event is free to attend but there will be bucket collections and an auction in aid of Swinton Lock Activity Centre, which helped T when she “hit rock bottom” last year.

Survivors from Rotherham and elsewhere will be reading poetry. 

T said despite fundraising £600 to cover some costs, the pair was struggling to source gifts from businesses for the auction.

She said: “Nobody wants to help unless I tell them my full story, which is difficult to do all the time.”

T is appealing for anyone who wants to donate to the auction, showcase artwork, perform or speak at the event to contact Rian.

Contributions are welcome not only from survivors but also anyone who is interested in the cause.

“We want to have a good time and show that we are not just survivors,” she added.

“I am just me and I am trying my hardest to be me, to remain me and not just that victim that everybody wants me to be.”

The show will be Rian's first project in the town since 2010 and he has been busy filming video installations for it around the borough.

Rian (29), of Broom, said: “We want to bring the town together through it all — it’s been a difficult time for everyone.”

To get involved contact Rian Treanor on 07592 333937 or email [email protected].