Ella

At six, she was sexually abused by the teenage son of the family she and her mother were living with. After a school lesson about telling a trusted adult, she spoke to a teacher. She had to repeat her account and hoped that, when her mother arrived, she would be safe.

Instead, her mother accused her of risking their home and sending her to prison. She was made to apologise for speaking up. For years afterwards, what had happened remained largely unacknowledged. She felt like a forgotten child, a snitch and an outsider, without protection from either parent.

Later, while at college, drinking and drugs became part of her life. She doubted her future, but eventually chose to stop those habits and build a life without waiting for her family to change.

She describes herself as creative, loving, kind and opinionated, with a love of books, concerts, animals and laughter. She stands up for equality and wants to offer others a safe place. She has worked to become the adult she needed when she was a child.