The Approach and Initial Nervousness As the Caspian blue and strato silver Ford 2.8 injection Capri rolled into the dimly lit carpark of the Xerox building in Slough, an overwhelming sense of apprehension washed over me. The night was eerily quiet, with only the soft hum of the car engine breaking the silence. The building […]
Breaking the Silence: My Journey to Disclosure For years, I wrestled with the tormenting secret of my sexual child abuse, grappling with the dual burdens of shame and fear. The thought of disclosing this deeply personal trauma filled me with an overwhelming dread. I feared judgment, disbelief, and the possibility of retraumatization. Each day, the […]
The Unforgettable Memories of Grafton Close As the years have stretched into decades, the memories of Grafton Close have remained as vivid as the day they were imprinted on my mind. The haunting echoes of that place replay incessantly, creating a perpetual cycle of relived moments that refuse to fade. Each image is a haunting […]
Introduction: A Troubled Beginning In September 1984, I found myself standing inside the doors of Grafton Close Children’s Home in Hounslow, feeling a complex mix of emotions that are hard to describe. My journey to this moment had been tumultuous, marked by a series of misunderstandings and disappointments. Social services, tasked with safeguarding my welfare, […]
Memories of Grafton Close Children’s Home Continuing from my previous blog post, I want to share more of my memories from Grafton Close Children’s Home. It is important for me to cover these points as it may help others remember what might have been forgotten during that time. I vividly recall the names of most […]
Darren Cassidy UK Director XEROX
The Long Road to Acknowledgment In the year 2020, I decided to reach out to Achieving for Children, an organization run by Richmond upon Thames Council, to address the abuse I had experienced while residing in one of their homes, specifically Grafton Close Children’s Home, back in 1984. It was a difficult decision to make, […]
