ROCHESTER
Rochester Cathedral with the Diocese of Rochester launched our first national LOUDfence in October 2021 as part of a Safeguarding Season running to All Survivors’ Day on 3rd November; and again in November 2022. They were joined by local parishes like St Mary’s Gravesend who ran their own LOUDfence. Full details including links to resources here.
CARLISLE
Carlisle Cathedral and Diocese are also hosted their second LOUDfence in 2022, as part of their Safeguarding Season, and were joined by other parishes across the diocese, for a time of prayer, reflection, worship and solidarity with those affected by abuse. Full details here.
BIRMINGHAM
St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham hosted their first LOUDfence in October 2022, working with the diocese and local ecumenical partners. The virtual ribbons were a popular way for people who were unable to visit the cathedral, to join in. The Roman Catholic cathedral will be hosts for 2023, launching on May 7th. More details here soon.
NORTHAMPTON
Our first LOUDfence tree featured at the opening of the Healing Garden at Northampton Cathedral in 2022. Information about the garden and pictures from the day can be found here. More details soon of this year’s LOUDfence in Northampton, to take place on May 17th.
ELY
Ely cathedral and diocese held their first LOUDfence in November 2022, as part of a Season of Safeguarding with a full programme of seminars (full details here). Survivors Voices joined other organisations to run a stall at the launch, and led a seminar on how to ensure survivors are safe, seen and supported.
PLYMOUTH
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth hosted the first LOUDfence in a Catholic church in February 2023. Jane and Antonia and friends were there for the launch on Wednesday 15th at 2pm, and will post a video soon. More details of the event on their website. Read about the event in The Tablet here.
BRISTOL
LOUDfence will be appearing at the Upfront Survivors launch and pop-up cultural event March 26th-29th at The People’s Republic of Stokes Croft CIC, Jamaica Street, Bristol. Jane will be representing Survivors Voices at the launch, so do say hello if you attend. Full information about Upfront Survivors and the event on their website.
SOUTHWARK
St George’s (Roman Catholic) Cathedral will be hosting their first LOUDfence on May 17th 2023, at their annual service for survivors. More details soon.
LOURDES
LOUDfence has crossed the channel! Church abuse activists in France have adopted our expression of LOUDfence and will be hosting their first one at LOURDES on 28th-29th March 2023. Translated into French as “Rubans contre l’oubli” (ribbons against forgetting), find out more on their website or follow on twitter @ContreLoubli