A child abuse survivor hopes to return to Dundee as he feels there is unfinished work in the city.
Dave Sharp, of Safe (Seek and Find Everyone) has been working with other abuse survivors to create an environment where those who have yet to come forward feel comfortable doing so.
The group were in the City Square earlier this year and Mr Sharp admits being “disappointed” only about a dozen approached them as he feels there are more people in the city who have suffered abuse in their past.
The Scottish Government is currently carrying out an inquiry into historical child abuse in the country.
A technical hiccup has meant he was locked out of his email account for several months, and while he thinks he has not missed anyone’s messages, he is encouraging people who may have contacted the group to try again.
He said: “The thing about a place like Dundee and other smaller cities or towns is that it is a very close knit community. People who have been abused in those kinds of places don’t want to upset their family.
“It’s frustrating. We want to help people but they have to reach out to us, we can’t approach them.
“Dundee both was and wasn’t a success. I’m disappointed more people haven’t come forward as I think there is a dark history around the area.
“As a child abuse survivor myself, I can tell if someone has been abused or not. I know there were many, many people who came by but did not contact us at, or after, the event.
“But I’ve heard from people in Addaction and Recovery Dundee that event has started something in Dundee, so I would like to come back and make the most of it.
“Before the event I came up to the city ‘undercover’ and went to shelters and other places where people who have been abused tend to be and found it be extremely dark.
“A lot of people hadn’t heard of the Scottish Government inquiry into historical child abuse.
“It would be interesting to return and ask what support and plans people like the local police have put in place since the event.
“It’s difficult because people don’t want to talk about child abuse. I am asking everyone to turn their back on their anger to stand with me and work with the police. I used to think I could reach out to them, but that’s not true anymore.”
He noted one success story from his time in Dundee. A man from Nottingham who lived in Dundee, contacted the group for support. He has since reunited with his family in England and has moved to be closer to them again.
Safe have now had more than 600 people from across the country contact them for support.
Mr Sharp encouraged anyone looking for support to contact him on davesharp1@hotmail.co.uk.
