The Voices of Truth
Today marks the launch of Voices of Truth, a project acknowledging survivors of child sexual abuse in football.
For decades, survivors spoke out and too often went unheard. In November 2016, that changed. Andy Woodward's account was followed by hundreds more, and by 2020, 849 survivors had come forward. The FA admitted institutional failure, and the Sheldon Report in 2021 set out 13 recommendations for change.
Voices of Truth marks 10 years since these mass disclosures began. It is for every survivor, whether they have spoken out or not.
At the heart is a short film, which can be watched below:
What Voices of Truth is
Voices of Truth acknowledges the horrific abuse that survivors suffered as children in football, their incredible courage and conviction in coming forward – whether publicly or privately – and the game’s gratitude to them for the significant contribution they have made to driving change in safeguarding across the game.
Why it’s important
This was a deeply troubling time for football, as we faced not only the appalling nature of the abuse that had been perpetrated, but the huge scale of it across the game.
Voices of Truth acknowledges all survivors of abuse in football whenever they came forward, whether they’ve waived their anonymity or not and whether they’ve spoken to anyone about their abuse or not. We recognise the long-lasting impacts the abuse has and the struggles this can create, so the platform signposts to the support that continues to be available for survivors of sexual abuse in football.
It also reflects on what football has learned from the appalling lived experience of so many, and what’s changed to make football ever-safer for future generations.
Who’s led this work
Voices of Truth has been led and informed by our FA Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group, which is made up of members with lived experience, alongside independent safeguarding and wellbeing professionals.
They’ve informed the approach, the name, the look and feel of the work and the group explains here why it’s crucial:
“Voices of Truth ensures survivors are never forgotten, unheard or invisible. We must recognise the courage it takes to speak out, while remembering those who have never felt able to. Football must learn from its past, honour survivors and remain committed to creating a safer future.”