With letters spread across the table and the board barren, I find childlike pleasure in the challenge in front of me. Focused, I pull letters out, matching words popping up in my head. And like a jigsaw, the words are carefully put into place on the scrabble board in front of me.

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With the last letter positioned, dissatisfaction and frustration suddenly bubble. These words define my experiences, yet over the years, despite voicing these very words to authorities, family and friends, my words never received validation or appropriate action, and the weekly visits with one of my abusers continued.

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‘Child’s Play’ demonstrates the challenges of bringing stories of abuse into the public arena. Taking part in these workshops, I have found I recognise with greater conviction that it is, in fact, society’s shame, not mine. There is a strength amongst us we often neglect to see.

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So, I wish to let you know. I am standing with you, even if you cannot find the words or if they have been disregarded.