I am deeply honoured and proud to share that I have been appointed as an Honorary Visiting Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI), with the appointment running until December 2027.

I received notification of this appointment in June 2025, and it recognises the contributions I made as a former member of the Victim Survivor Consultative Panel (VSCP) and consultant to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) — contributions which I now carry forward independently as the Founder & CEO of Survivors of aBuse (SoB).

A Commitment to Embedding Survivor Voices

For those who may not know me or my journey, my work is rooted in lived experience. I am a survivor of all forms of childhood abuse and domestic violence and have dedicated my professional and personal life to ensuring that survivor voices are not only heard but meaningfully embedded in research, policy, practice, and systems-level change.

The Victim Survivor Consultative Panel (VSCP) was established in 2015 as an integral part of IICSA, bringing together individuals with lived experience of child sexual abuse to provide insight, advice, and leadership to one of the most significant inquiries into institutional CSA in the UK.
In 2023, ARU & IPPPRI partnered with the VSCP to explore how to integrate survivor expertise into their research and practice, focusing on areas such as:

• Child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE)
• Trauma-informed care
• Inclusive communities
• Health and wellbeing outcomes for survivors

During this partnership, the VSCP collectively contributed to impactful events, guidance documents, and research outputs.

My Contributions

As a member of the VSCP and working closely with ARU & IPPPRI, I was privileged to act as project manager and facilitator for the following webinars which reached over hundreds of professionals from across sectors. These focused on:

• Trauma-Informed Organisations: Balancing competing demands on trauma-informed organisations

• A Meaningful Seat at the Table: How giving lived-experience individuals a meaningful seat at the table can influence and shape your work for the better

• CSAE Language and Victim-Blaming: How the use of language in different contexts can help or hinder your work

These sessions helped professionals and organisations understand the real-world implications of their policies, language, and practices — equipping them to work more meaningfully and respectfully with survivors.

I also:
• Developed and delivered a practitioner workshop at the IPSCAN annual conference, providing tools for engaging survivors in trauma-informed ways.

• Supported the planning and delivery of the ARU & IPPPRI 2024 conference: Learning from, and embedding, victim and survivor experiences in responses to CSA, bringing together professionals from health, education, social care, and justice.

• Collaborated on written guidance on the importance of language when working in CSAE contexts, highlighting how words can either support or harm survivors.

These contributions were only possible because of the supportive collaboration with ARU, IPPPRI, and my VSCP colleagues, whose insight, courage, and professionalism I continue to admire.

Why This Matters

This Fellowship is not just a personal milestone. It represents an ongoing commitment — mine and ARU & IPPPRI’s — to creating safer, more inclusive, trauma-informed communities by centring the voices and expertise of those with lived experience.

It also reflects a growing recognition in academia and public services that survivors bring vital insight and leadership to complex challenges, and that meaningful partnerships between professionals and survivors lead to better outcomes.

Gratitude

I am particularly humbled by the words of Professor Samantha Lundrigan, Director of IPPPRI, who wrote:

“Chris’s work is consistently driven by her dedication to fostering long-lasting, positive change. In all aspects of her professional and personal life, she uses her lived experiences to connect, communicate, and inspire others. Chris Tuck has been an exceptional colleague and supporter of IPPPRI and ARU. Her knowledge, skills, and dedication will undoubtedly continue to be an asset to our ongoing development in relation to the victim/survivor theme, CSAE research, and trauma-informed practice.”

I would like to sincerely thank ARU, IPPPRI, and my former VSCP colleagues for their trust, partnership, and commitment to this important work — and to the survivors everywhere who continue to inspire me with their strength and resilience.

Looking Ahead

As I move forward with this Fellowship, my focus will remain on:

• Supporting ARU & IPPPRI’s research and practice development as an independent advisor

• Continuing to promote trauma-informed and survivor-centred approaches through Survivors of aBuse (SoB)

• Building connections with professionals, sponsors, and organisations who share this vision of meaningful, impactful change

If you or your organisation are interested in learning more about this work — or exploring opportunities to collaborate, sponsor, or support our initiatives — please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Together we can continue to make progress.

About Chris Tuck

Chris Tuck is the Founder & CEO of Survivors of aBuse (SoB), an author, public speaker, and trauma-informed practitioner. Drawing on her lived experience as a survivor of childhood abuse and domestic violence, she has dedicated her life to empowering others and creating systemic change.

Chris served as a consultant to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and was a member of the Victim Survivor Consultative Panel (VSCP), working to embed survivor voices in national policy and practice.

She is now an Honorary Visiting Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University & IPPPRI, continuing to support research, knowledge exchange, and the development of trauma-informed, survivor-centred approaches.

Let’s Work Together

If you or your organisation would like to:

• Sponsor or support Survivors of aBuse (SoB)
• Collaborate on research, training, or policy development
• Learn more about survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches

We’d love to hear from you.

📧 Email: sobbtc@outlook.com
🌐 Website: www.survivorsofabuse.org.uk
🤝 Together we can create meaningful, lasting change.

End of Blog

Chris Tuck AATQB, ACMA, CGMA
Founder & Director SoB
www.survivorsofabuse.org.uk

Anglia University Honorary Visiting Fellow. International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI).

Consultant to IICSA – Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Connector, Communication & Change Agent
www.christuckmotivationalspeakerandtrainer.co.uk

Trauma Informed Health & Fitness
www.westwickhamfitness.com