The stories presented here are real. They are written by the people whose story it is — not rewritten by ghost writers, not sanitised by editors. They are in the words of people who have learnt to manage their experience.
Our aim is not to seek sympathy. It is to show you that you are not alone, that you can rise above what was done to you, that you were not and are not to blame, and that you can manage your experience — rather than let it manage you.
All stories are published with the full, informed consent of the person sharing them. Stories involving children are subject to additional safeguarding review before publication.
🔍 For safeguarding professionals — your feedback is needed
This page is in early development and is not yet public. We are seeking feedback from safeguarding practitioners, educators, psychologists and child welfare professionals before any real stories are published. Specifically, we would welcome your thoughts on:
- The category structure — are there gaps, or categories that need splitting or combining?
- The age-restriction approach for sexual abuse content — is supervised access by an appropriate adult the right guardrail?
- The consent and submission architecture — what processes should be in place before a story is accepted and published?
- Trauma-informed editorial guidance — what principles should govern how stories are presented?
- Any safeguarding risks you can identify in the concept that we haven't addressed.
Please send feedback to safeguarding@vmlkids.com
Stories of how individuals faced the challenges of being bullied — how they learnt to manage the fears it created, and how they move forward.
Personal stories of how individuals faced and managed their experience of being the victim of psychological abuse — coercive control, emotional manipulation, gaslighting and the invisible wounds that can take longest to heal.
Read psychological abuse stories →Personal stories of how individuals faced and managed their experience of being the victim of physical abuse — and found the courage and support to rebuild their sense of safety.
Read physical abuse stories →Personal stories of how individuals faced and managed their experience of being the victim of sexual abuse. These are among the most difficult stories to tell and to read — but also among the most important.
Personal stories of how individuals faced and managed their experience of being excluded — from schools, from clubs, from peer groups — and found their way back to belonging.
Read exclusion stories →Personal stories of how individuals faced and managed their experience of abandonment — by a parent, a family, a community — and built new foundations for their lives.
Read abandonment stories →📝 Share your story
If you have been through something difficult and believe your story could help someone else feel less alone, we would be honoured to hear from you. All stories are published in your own words — we do not rewrite or ghost-write.
Before any story is published, our editorial team — which includes trained safeguarding practitioners — will:
- Confirm your full, informed consent to publish
- Check that nothing in your story could inadvertently identify or harm you
- Discuss with you whether you want to be named, use a pseudonym, or remain anonymous
- Apply additional safeguarding review for stories involving experiences in childhood
To share your story: Email stories@vmlkids.com — a member of our team will respond within five working days.
If you need help right now
Childline: 0800 1111 — free, confidential, 24 hours, for children and young people.
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 — for adults worried about a child.
Samaritans: 116 123 — free, 24 hours, for anyone struggling.