A Co Down survivor ofchildhood sexual abuse is heading a movement to shatter the taboo and shift theshame to where it belongs. Mandi Millar reports

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Leanne Jennings (41) was just eight when the sexual abuse began.

It continued relentlessly for over 10 years and only stopped when she ‘escaped’ to university.

“As is often the case the abuse happened at the hands of people I knew and should have been able to trust, people supposed to protect a child,” says Leanne.

Now a mum of two with a successful tech business which she runs from her home outside Castlewellan Leanne and her sister Bronagh Munro have launched We As One, a survivor-led movement they hope will shatter the taboo around sexual abuse and violence.

“My experience as a child was very severe in terms of sexual abuse, violence and unthinkable cruelty,” says Leanne.

“My parents separated when I was 12 years old and I don’t have a relationship with my mother today though I’m very close to the rest of my family. It was a fractured home and I was vulnerable. It was the perfect environment for predators, who exploited our circumstances.

“I did try to speak up but it was met with disbelief. At eight I didn’t have the understanding or vocabulary and then at certain stages when I did, any conversation was quickly shut down in silence and shame.

“Looking back I don’t think people had the capacity to deal with what I was telling them and they didn’t know what to do with it,” continues Leanne, mum of two who’s married to Thomas.

“As a child my experiences were extremely isolating and deeply painful. My abusers were from two entirely separate sets of people who’d no connection to each other but each threatened me and my family with more sexual violence if I said anything.

“Looking back now I don’t know how I kept going, I felt trapped in world of pain, fear, with an unbearable weight of shame and self blame. I didn’t feel loved becauseno one protected me.

“I knew my only escape would be to do well at school and get to university.”

Which Leanne did gaining three A’s in her A-levels and a First in her communications and marketing degree at Ulster University.

But that shame, fear and isolation has overshadowed every aspect of her life forthe last 30 years. It was only the birth of her children which prompted her to seek help and finally speak about her unspeakable trauma.

“Ilooked at the children and I wanted to be fully present for them for I knew Iwasn’t because of all this trauma I was carrying. I wanted to be the best version of me possible. Carrying all this pain I knew I wasn’t fully showing up for myself and for others and I felt stuck,” admits Leanne, who sought help from therapist Deirdre Maguire five years ago.

“I was fortunate to be able to fund it myself for there was a long waiting list with the public services for what would be just six week’s talking therapy which to be honest with this level of trauma was like taking a sticking plasterto a dam.”

Leanne’s healing process though was far from easy for it unlocked things she’d buried deepin her mind to save her sanity.

“Andit was more than talking. My healing was a journey of body and soul — because childhood sexual abuse lives in the body, in tension and memory, and it must be released.

I turned to intensive therapy, breathwork, mindset work, and daily practices.These weren’t quick fixes — they were tools that helped me process, release, and rebuild.

“If we don’t deal with it, the body remembers—and reacts. I committed to that work, and it helped me reconnect with who I am. I’m no longer ashamed of my past. I’ve rebuilt from the inside out, and now I can live fully—no longer defined by what happened to me. We are so much more than our past.” says Leanne who as a result of her journey wants to help other victims and survivors of sexual abuse and violence through the We As One movement.

“Our mission is to help victims and survivors heal, prevent future harm through awareness and education and create spaces for truth-telling, connection, and long-term change.

“Through creative expression and advocacy we’re building a community where survivors feel seen, supported, and empowered.

“We’re starting locally but we have big ambitions as this is a national and international level issue. Already we’re speaking to other organisations like The Brave movement which operates globally.

“The statistics say one in four women has suffered abuse and one in six men but because of the nature of the crime I believe much more goes unreported.

“Women and men who have lived with this unimaginable secret are losing their lives to it 30 or 40 years later – I almost did.

“It took me to the darkest places and it takes a lot of strength to come through the other side. What gets me up every day now is the determination that what I went through isn’t going to take my life or define my future.

“It takes great bravery but I’ve found that there’s a warrior in us all when we’ve been through this kind of trauma.

The silence and shame of sexual abuse and violence must be brought into the light, and the taboo broken. This issue must be brought to the forefront — speaking about it isn’t optional, it’s necessary. We can’t end abuse and violence without talking about it.
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To every survivor and victim: you are not alone. You are heard, believed, and understood. Silence never protected us — it only protected abusers. That endsn ow.

* If you or someone you knowhas been affected by any of the issues discussed you can contact We As One at www.weasone.co.uk or www.instagram.com/weasone_uk/

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