Break the Silence invited several guest speakers to its first conference

A charity which aims to tackle sexual abuse held its first conference earlier this month.

Break the Silence wants to increase awareness and promote equality for survivors of rape and childhood sexual abuse.

The organisation has supported more than 2,000 people in Ayrshire since it was founded 14 years ago and hosted its inaugural conference on 8 June, with more than 250 health and wellbeing professionals attending.

Alison Tait, chief executive of Break The Silence opened the conference by highlighting a 28% increase in referrals for support in Ayrshire, a significant increase in males referring for support and an increase in self-referrals.

Guest speakers included male Survivors Partnership co-founder Duncan Craig, who launched the first ever Male Service Standards for Sexual Violence at the House of Lords this year, and award-winning children’s rights campaigner Norma Howes.

In addition to a host of speakers, delegates also had the opportunity to browse the Emily Macinnes’ photographic exhibition Paradise Lost Testimonies of Abuse.