Counter Terror Business - Victims & Survivors

Manchester Survivors Choir

Robyn Quick — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 11:12:41 +0000

Alison Aitken, Manchester Survivors’ Choir chair explains how the choir came about and the impact it has had.

The Manchester Survivors Choir was established in 2018, following the Manchester Arena Bombing. The choir is comprised of bereaved, survivors and those affected by the tragic events of the 22nd May 2017.

The choir was the idea of Andrea Bradbury, who retired in March 2017 after serving for thirty years in the police as a Detective Inspector in the counter terrorism branch. Andrea’s daughter and her friend, being keen musical theatre performers themselves, had booked tickets for the Ariana Grande concert. They were both fifteen at the time.

Andrea and her friend Barbara were waiting for their daughters in the city room when the bomb detonated. They were the closest people to the bomber to survive. They both suffered shrapnel wounds and later had to undergo surgery for their injuries. Despite being in counter terrorism, it was an extremely traumatic experience both mentally and physically for Andrea and also for her friend Barbara (a teaching assistant).

They both suffered from survivors’ guilt, knowing that twenty-two people had been killed and that number included children.

Whilst their daughters escaped physically uninjured, they had also experienced and witnessed the devasting events.

Therapeutic singing

Having already been part of a church choir, and because of her daughter’s love of musical theatre, singing was a source of comfort and safety for them. Andrea wondered if young people, who had an obvious love of music being at a concert, might also find singing therapeutic. Her idea was to bring them together to not only sing but also to share a drink, cake and be able to talk to other people who had shared experiences to try and make sense of what had happened.

Following the attack, the police set up an online support group on which Andrea posted her idea and was contacted by another lady and a young person and the three of them together formed the choir group, with the first meeting taking place in a small church in Manchester in February 2018.

Not long after its launch, Songs of Praise and the media heard about the group and it expanded much quicker than anyone imagined. The choir were asked to perform at the first anniversary of the attack. Despite the first meeting being one of tears and hugs and not really saying a great deal to each other and indeed many of us have never revealed the full stories of our experiences of that night, we felt that the common bond of music and a sense of trying to establish a new normal was easier when you had a friend who understood. Many of our families did not understand what we had experienced and it was simply easier to hug someone who knew what you were feeling.

The first meeting was attended by just 18 people. Andrea remembers how difficult it was to even drive into the city again and experiencing feeling lost but through the common bond that brought us together we have managed to do amazing things. The choir members were also supported by others such as the Christie Hospital and the Peace Centre in Warrington and through their support the choir has helped people get back into the city, to attend concerts again and take part in holistic therapies.

Performances

At its peak, the choir had around ninety members who have sung at many events in the UK and in Nice, France. These include televised events, for the Mayor Andy Burnham, The National Emergencies Trust launch and the Westminster Bridge Memorial Service attended by the Prime Minister, in support of those affected by trauma, the public who have helped us and for charitable purposes.

Whilst our members are lower now as our youngsters have happily moved on to university and work, we still continue to meet regularly to support one another, to practice and to perform. Most recently we have sung at the Spinal Injuries Annual Dinner in support of Martin Hibbert who was paralysed in the arena bombing and is now the Vice President of the charity and at the Rock, Bury for Liv’s Trust, one of the bereaved family’s charities.

In September this year, members of the choir attended the 9/11 family memorial event in New York having been invited by an ex-Fire Chief Malcolm Dean whose brother was killed in the attack and who himself was a responder at the World Trade Centre on that fateful day. Malcom’s family hails from Manchester and he has travelled home to see them and met up with the choir whilst he was here.

Choir members also met with him during a United Nations event in Nice. He currently is a senior lead for the Emergency Medical Services and lectures for the US �鶹��land Security on Counter Terrorism. Also on the trip was Aaron Palmer who was a serving police officer at the time of the Manchester Arena attack and is now a fire fighter who organises an annual charity football match, Manchester Remembers, in aid of the family’s charities.

The choir continues to be a great source of comfort and support for its members and over the years we have become more of a family. Our mission is to continue to spread love (not hate) through our shared interest in music and in support of those suffering trauma following acts of terrorism.

Follow the choir here

Now is the time to create change for young people affected by terror

Freya — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 13:30:34 +0000

Victims & Survivors

Dr Cath Hill, Manchester Arena attack survivor, lecturer in social work at Lancaster University and member of the National Emergencies Trust’s Survivors Advisory Forum explains some of the findings of the Bee The Difference report

It’s been six years since the Manchester Arena terror attack, and nearly a third of young people affected by that night have not received any professional support. As a survivor of the attack, along with my son who was ten years old at the time, I know first-hand how crucial it is for young people to receive specialist support. It can help them to recover and rebuild their lives after experiencing trauma.

One of the reasons I co-founded the Manchester Survivors Choir in 2018 was that, as both a social worker and a mum, I could see a need for greater support for those affected, including the many hundreds of young people. Being able to come together with other survivors and share our passion for music, as well as our experiences of the attack, was a lifeline. But it also shone a light on the disparities in support being offered, and the lack of understanding about their needs.

It’s why early last year I approached the National Emergencies Trust about creating new insights into the experiences of young Manchester survivors – and how Bee The Difference was born. The research project is a collaboration between nine incredible young survivors, the team at the National Emergencies Trust and myself and colleagues at Lancaster University. It aims to enhance understanding of the impact of terror on young people; what support is most helpful – and ultimately improve outcomes for future young survivors.

The nine young survivors led the design of a Bee The Difference survey. This launched in August last year and was open to young Manchester survivors who were under 18 at the time of the attack. Having the young people lead it was vital because it meant that the right questions were asked in the most compassionate way possible, and crucially without asking young people to retell their personal stories. The survey also went through a rigorous process with Lancaster University’s Ethics Panel.

More than 200 young survivors filled in the survey in the months that followed, providing both quantitative data and detailed qualitative feedback. Thanks to their contributions we now have a clear picture of how to improve outcomes for young people affected by terror in the future. So, what can we learn from their experiences? The report highlights six actions individuals and institutions can take to improve the support and access available.

Bee visible
Make sure that support is visible and readily available for young survivors and their loved ones so that the onus is not on them to find it. The research shows that 29 per cent of young Manchester survivors have never received professional support and some of the key reasons for this are that it was never offered to them; they didn’t feel comfortable to ask for it; and they didn’t know where to find it.
In the aftermath of future attacks, local authorities, schools, GPs, charities and others could all play a valuable role by signposting the support available to those affected. Interestingly, the research highlights that offering mental health support early on can help to validate young people’s feelings, so can have a positive benefit straight away, even for those who may not feel ready to take up the offer.

Bee compassionate
Listen to, validate and take proactive steps to accommodate young survivors’ new needs. The findings show that the simple act of validating young people’s feelings can make a huge difference to their wellbeing; and is something all adults and organisations in positions of care could be mindful of should the worst happen again. The qualitative feedback in the report suggests young people had their feelings dismissed because of their age.

“... when I asked for help they brushed me off and put it down to just teenage hormones. To then just put me on antidepressants and that was only at 18 - and they didn’t even think of referring me to a therapist.”

Bee experienced
Make sure that specialised trauma support is accessible and readily available, wherever survivors are based. While many young people received incredible pastoral care from their schools, many noted that they would have benefitted from more specialised help – and in some cases, this was a long time coming. In fact, while 93 per cent of young survivors felt they needed support in the aftermath of the attack, 70 per cent received no professional help within the first month and 31 per cent received no professional help within the first year.

“I sought help from my school nurse/therapist a few months after the attack when I was experiencing nightmares...She read from a printed stapled booklet and told me to have a bubble bath before going to bed to prevent the nightmares. This wasn’t helpful.”

One form of “experienced” support was peer-to-peer support from other survivors. This proved vital because it gave young people a chance to connect with others who really understood them. Alongside this, specialist trauma-informed experts were highly valued. Many were referred to specialists by their GPs or through the Manchester Resilience Hub.

Bee flexible
It’s clear that young survivors benefit most when they can choose the kind of therapy that works for them. But this was often not the case, and some felt that adults made the wrong choices for them. In the future, trusting children and young people to have a say in the support they receive could help to significantly improve outcomes.

“...it was clear the counselling was directed to younger kids as a method of drawing pictures with crayons and being unable to speak freely made the experience feel incredibly condescending and difficult. Therefore it made my mental health worse and I was unwilling to continue.”

Bee patient
Remember that recovery isn’t linear and can take time. Mental health needs evolve over time and sometimes major life events and anniversaries can be retraumatising. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of young survivors continue to receive psychological support today. A further one in five have stopped receiving professional support (19 per cent) but feel they would still benefit from it. Anniversaries, in particular, can be triggering for young survivors, making it vital to factor these in when planning for their long-term care.

“I would say that I am affected more now than I was 5 years ago. I receive support from family and friends [...] I struggle to comprehend what even happened that night.”

Bee proactive
Act on young survivors’ experiences to turn their challenges into future change. There’s more that can be done now to improve support for young people following a major traumatic event and the report suggests ways that individuals, educators, healthcare professionals, government and other public bodies can make a difference. Now that the Bee The Difference report has launched, the hard work needs to really begin. It’s time to create change for young survivors, together.

“Resilience in Unity”

Freya — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 08:45:30 +0000

Victims & Survivors

Travis Frain is a survivor of the 2017 Westminster Bridge attack in which four people were killed, when a car was driven into pedestrians. Since then, Travis has become a prominent campaigner for educating society of the dangers of terrorism and founded the Resilience in Unity project, which seeks to record and amplify testimonies and educate society on the risks from terrorism. Travis recently received The British Citizen Award for Services to Volunteering and Charitable Giving, for the January 2023 Roll of Honour So far, more than 100 testimonies have been recorded from more than 20 countries around the world. Travis also visits schools, colleges and universities, sharing his story and building awareness of extremism and terrorism and providing tools for understanding and preventing radicalisation. Motivation CTB spoke to Travis about the work he has been doing. We began by asking why he decided to start Resilience in Unity. Travis said: “On 22 March 2017, a man named Khalid Masood drove a car into pedestrians on the pavement along the south side of Westminster Bridge in London, killing four people and injuring a further 50 people. I, and my friends, were all injured in the attack, though fortunately we all survived. “Over the years following the attack, I came to very quickly understand the difficulties that survivors can face in the aftermath of an attack, and the need for connection and solidarity to be formed with other survivors in order to support one another. As I became more active in this area, wanting to support other victims and do what I could to prevent future extremism, I came to see how our stories can be an effective counternarrative to those spread by extremists seeking to divide. This is why I set up the Resilience in Unity project. I wanted to give those affected by terrorism a voice and a platform to tell their story, whilst also commemorating and memorialising the lives lost through acts of terrorism across the globe.” Aims Travis explained how the project works: “We speak to survivors and victims from around the world to reflect on their personal experiences, recording their testimonies and crafting these onto a mapping tool that can be viewed and accessed by anyone via our website. We have so far recorded over 100 testimonies from over 20 countries.” The project has a few aims which include: humanising victims, beyond merely becoming a statistic, and demonstrating the realities of human suffering as a result of terrorism and demonstrating the benefits of listening to those most affected, ensuring we learn from their experiences to better our counterterrorism efforts and policies. Among the other aims are educating wider society on the risks from terrorism and the tangible things we can do at grassroots level to prevent radicalisation and safeguard our community, friends and family and providing a resource for those aiming to counter the spread of hate and division in our communities. Travis explained how we can learn from survivors of terrorism and how their voices can be used to make a change. He said: “Well the first step is by genuinely listening to survivors and understanding their unique experiences, rather than simply providing hot air. Many survivors are told that ‘lessons will be learned’ after attacks and yet, when it comes to support for victims, so many have been campaigning for change for years, with little movement from Government. Last year I testified before the UN Assembly on the importance of remembrance and recognition and how survivors’ voices can be used for preventing violent extremism, calling for a National Day of Service in Tribute to Victims of Terrorism. By hearing first hand from survivors of terrorism and learning from their experiences, we can ensure victims of future attacks receive the best possible support, and we can properly address any failures identified by inquiries and inquests to help prevent other attacks in future.” Government support Expanding on what the government could do, Travis said: “Commemorations provide an important opportunity for us to unite survivors and learn from their experiences so we can improve our counterterrorism efforts, including the support provided to the victims of terrorist attacks. “Last year I met with representatives from Downing Street to propose we set up a national day of service in tribute to victims of terrorism – a day where we as a nation can take time to consider how our actions impact one another and identify ways in which we can challenge extremist ideologies and ultimately prevent future attacks. “We must all work together to ensure victims of terrorism are not forgotten. Governments, survivors’ organisations, civil society groups, communities – we all have a role to play to inspire positive change, and I hope that the Government will continue their commitment to establishing such a date so that we can provide the public with the tools to recognise the warning signs of radicalisation, and to support those most intimately affected.” Public support We also asked Travis what the public can do to help. He replied: “It is more important than ever that we stand together against the enduring terrorist threat. We offer resources and guidance via the Resilience in Unity website for those seeking more information on how to educate, take action, and respond to terrorism. Find out more here. “For other support, I would recommend that people contact their local Prevent Team at the Council or contact their local Police Department for advice!” School visits Travis told us about the work he does visiting schools around the country. “We are seeing a rapid rise of extremism online and in schools across the UK. Given the �鶹�� Office’s latest report highlighting the rise of under-18s being arrested for terror offences, we feel we have an important role to play in reducing the influence of extremist groups and protecting vulnerable minds. “Over the past couple of years, I have visited hundreds of schools, colleges, and universities across the country to provide practitioners with the tools and resources needed to safeguard young people from the dangers they may face online and to educate young people on the risks so they can identify and challenge extremism for themselves. More than anything else, I feel it is important that young people hear these real-life stories and understand that these issues truly can affect any one of us – after all, I was only 19 years old at the time of the Westminster attack.” Testimonies Talking about some of the testimonies that have been gathered as part of the project, Travis shared one with us. “A great example of the good that can be found in sharing and amplifying these voices, and the initiatives they are involved in, can be quite clearly seen with Cath Hill. Cath survived the Manchester Arena attack on 22 May 2017 – where 22 innocent people lost their lives – after taking her son to see his first ever concert. The event changed their lives forever and they have been living with the psychological consequences every day since. As a result of their experience, Cath set up the Bee the Difference research project with the National Emergencies Trust, spearheaded by nine young survivors from the attack. Bee the Difference has now interviewed hundreds of young victims of the Manchester arena attack, determined to learn from these young people’s experiences to ensure children affected by future attacks receive the best possible support. Cath’s work and the Bee the Difference project is just one example of the many inspiring initiatives that many survivors become involved in post-attack, positive initiatives that aim to keep us all safer in future.” Final thoughts When asked for any final comments, Travis responded: “All I would add is this; to anyone reading this magazine, please take into account the reality behind this topic. Too often I feel we can get caught up in the theory, and lose sight of what really matters – the raw, real-life stories of those affected by these heinous acts. Only by centring them at the heart of our efforts going forward can we seek to properly address the threat, and coherently present a firm response in the face of terrorism.”

Bee the difference

Freya — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 09:42:58 +0000

Victims & Survivors

Alicia Taylor, 19, from Leyland, Lancashire talks about her recent trip to talk at the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism A few years ago, I would never have been able to picture myself speaking to thousands of people at the UN Headquarters in New York. It’s not the sort of thing young people from a small town in Lancashire are given the opportunity to do. At 13, my entire life changed when I survived the Manchester Arena attack and this is what I spoke about at the UN. Back in August this year, myself and eight other young survivors of the 2017 Manchester Arena Terror attack launched a research project called Bee The Difference, which advocates for an improved support system for future young survivors of terrorism. It’s a survey we designed with help from Dr Cath Hill, a lecturer in Social Work at Lancaster University, and the team at the National Emergencies Trust. It’s open to all young people affected by the Arena Attack who were under 18 at the time and aims to find out what support young people have received since the attack and how helpful (or not!) this has been. It’s a very unique project so its launch in August attracted a lot of media attention, which has been brilliant for raising awareness of the survey among young Manchester survivors. It also caught the eye of those planning the UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism in September - and before we knew it, we were on a plane bound for New York. I was invited to speak on a panel representing the views and needs of young people affected by terror. I was pretty nervous about what I was going to say or how this might come across to an international audience. But I decided to tell my personal story because I think this best brings to life why a project like Bee The Difference is needed - and how all different parts of society can play a role in ensuring that young people affected by terrorism in the future get the best care possible. I was just 13 years old when the attack happened. It was my first time going to a concert with my friend without the supervision of our parents, who were waiting for us that night in the foyer where the bomb went off. Before the attack I was an innocent child, like so many others that night. I was sheltered and naive. I would never have believed that something on such an unprecedented scale would happen to me and my family. The attack ripped away that veil of childish naivety. It was like my childhood essentially ended on that night. I think it’s important to understand that a child’s response to trauma is different from an adult’s. A child doesn’t have the emotional maturity of an adult and may have a very difficult time comprehending what has happened to them. In my case, I was suddenly face to face with the kind of evil that I vaguely knew existed on the news and in films. I never thought it would become my reality. I didn’t fully understand it - and I needed support from the people and institutions around me to help me to process what had happened and move forward. School is a really important place for this processing. But my experience after the attack was not a very positive one. I felt very invalidated by my high school as they did not recognise what had happened to me and several other victims in my school, who were aged around 12 or 13 at the time. They did not listen to us or give us any beneficial immediate mental health support. As a child, I didn’t realise how wrong this was. Only nine months after the bombing, the school carried out an unannounced bomb drill, which set many of us months and months back in our recovery. I remember seeing school as an antagonistic force and feeling that they didn’t really care what had happened to us. A child needs emotional support that is stable, secure and consistent. In my opinion, the school needs to be on the child’s side, and they need to safeguard the child, and acknowledge what has happened to them. The last thing a young person needs after experiencing major trauma is feeling as if their wellbeing and needs don’t matter. For me, school support was even more important because my mother was also caught up in the attack and experienced shock. She was standing in the foyer, but she was lucky; the only physical injury she came away with was deafness in one ear. Nevertheless, her mental injuries meant she couldn’t support me until she got support herself. School should be a safe space, external to home life, where children aren’t judged by their experience or alienated by it. It is where their emotions should be listened to and supported. It should be a kind place that can educate children affected by terror that life isn’t all evil and reassure them that they have the ability to be reintroduced back into “real” life. For example, I think there should be counsellors, maybe therapists, teaching children how to access the safe space in their minds as well as in real life. And importantly, educating the child that what has happened to them isn’t their fault. I have personally found support from other survivors incredibly helpful. It’s where I have felt most validated and least alone. As part of the Manchester Survivors Choir, I went to an Ed Sheeran concert which was the first concert I attended since the attack. The experience taught me normality and I think it is important to teach a child what it should have been like; what a concert should have felt like. Although the memory of the attack will always be permanently tattooed in my mind, that positive new experience meant I could reimagine the past and transform it into a good memory, knowing what it’s like to leave a concert feeling safe. It provided us all with hope. I got this same warm feeling again on our trip to New York when we attended the 9/11 memorial event and met survivors of that attack. We had never met each other before - but somehow, we feel like family. We can help each other through. I feel hope too when I think about the Bee The Difference survey and what it might help to achieve for other young people like me. Those of us helping to lead it want to make sure that other young survivors have a voice to share their experiences. As I said at the UN, we are advocating for a holistic support system, without disparities, so that no other child in the future will feel the invalidation that I once felt and many others did - and will get the best care at every step. Whoever they are. It’s a really short survey to fill in, but it could make a huge difference to others, so we hope that as many young people as possible will take part. Next to my name in the UN congress outline, I was described as a ‘survivor of terrorism’ but that is what and not who I am. Children and young people like me are still learning about the world and where they belong in it. When something devastating happens to them they need to be offered a helpful road to recovery. Therapy, having access to a safe space and crucially being listened to by institutions. Through Bee The Difference we are listening to young survivors’ needs today - and in the future we will make sure that they are listened to, and supported, when it really matters. To find out more about the survey and to take part, please visit the National Emergencies Trust’s website: https://nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk/beethedifference/