Side By Side CSA (Social Work) is a survivor-designed programme delivered by Survivor Sophie Olson and Consultant Social Worker Sarah Pritchard. The powerful tool of storytelling is used to illustrate the child’s experience leading into the survivor’s journey and the social harms faced. Sophie and Sarah explore safeguarding complexities and barriers, misconceptions, and consider how professionals can advocate for the needs of the child victim and adult survivor within system and resource constraints, with compassion, empathy and courage.
.png)
"I was entirely off your radar - and you were off mine. I had no idea what a social worker was. I hadn’t heard of the care system"
Sophie Olson - Survivor of child sexual abuse
.png)
SIDE BY SIDE CSA
Social Care
Survivor and Practitioner delivered professional training in Child Sexual Abuse
_edited.png)
Southampton Safeguarding Partnership Conference
Sarah and Sophie at Preston Social Work Conference
It is our belief that all social workers should have lived experience led training on how to better identify, respond to and support child and adult victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. Professionals can feel understandably anxious or misinformed about the way a child or adult survivor might present, or how to approach a conversation where concerns are raised. This training brings policies to life and instils confidence, allowing them to use their professional skills and judgement effectively in a complex and challenging area.
Wellbeing support and clear signposting for delegates is provided throughout sessions, with the recognition the subject might be challenging for those supporting victims and survivors, or managing their own trauma. Our approach is human-centred, kind and trauma responsive.
Side By Side CSA is committed to evidence-based practices that align with current legislation. We are proud to amplify the often overlooked voices of survivors from diverse backgrounds, while directing to the latest resources from CSA Centre of Expertise, NSPCC, and The Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
Sophie with co-presenters Lads Like Us: Becoming Trauma Responsive (CSA and CSE lived experience talk. Hull)
How we can help
_edited.png)
Self-Exploration:
Professional discomfort can significantly impede effective support for victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). We gently invite you to recognise, reflect on and address individual comfort levels - crucial for creating a compassionate, supportive environment.
Skills Development:
You will develop comprehensive skills to understand and support child victims and adult survivors of sexual abuse, focusing on identifying and overcoming barriers to trauma-responsive practice through enhanced relational and empathetic approaches.
Discover the power of authentic and courageous relational skills fueled by professional curiosity. You will gain a deep understanding of how trauma extends beyond childhood, leaving you equipped with valuable insights for personal and professional growth.
Delivery:
Lived -experience training in-person is most impactful, as it breaks down personal and professional barriers in a unique way (costs dependent on location, hours and number of participants). Our training courses can be adapted to different settings and group sizes.
.png)
.png)
You blew us away today Sophie. Honest, raw, engaging, but most importantly, you made us think about our interactions with children: Opportunities to be heard. Professional curiosity. Missed opportunities. Some of the common failings that are often safeguarding child practice reviews. Thank you for sharing your story, and for helping us to do better.
Safeguarding One Conference 2024
This session was outstanding and we felt privileged to listen to you, thank you for all you do to break the taboo about child sexual abuse.
Together For Childhood Plymouth (NSPCC)
.png)
The unique perspective you bring enables us to learn from what we missed. It's not as if you were referred in and we missed something, but that you weren't referred in. You are the link to helping us keep these children safe. That, and in terms of learning, people retain narratives better than they retain lectures or facts. Your voice and story resonates with them in a way that anything I say would never do.
Leah Cox - Social Work Lecturer
The specific structure and format of The Flying Child training: Side By Side CSA, including the description and content, in advertising and promotion, and the use of associated imagery - is the intellectual property of The Flying Child CIC and is protected by copyright and trademark. This content may not be copied, reproduced, or used in any form without express written permission. Unauthorised use may result in legal action to protect the rights of the copyright holder.
©The Flying Child CIC™ incorporated 2021.
THE FLYING CHILD CIC
Registered Company
13674916
85 Great Portland Street
1st Floor
London
England
W1W 7LT