Heard.
Believed.
Supported.
The Survivors Club
Every Tuesday evening at our Hessel Street Hub, women come together in a space where their experiences are met with understanding, not judgement.
The Survivors Club is an independent peer support group for women who have experienced sexual violence. Founded and led by Kate, it brings together women who have often carried their stories in silence, offering them a consistent, confidential, and compassionate space to share, connect, and find strength in one another.
For many of the women who attend, The Survivors Club is the first place they have ever spoken about what happened to them. It is not a counselling service or a formal programme; it is simply a room full of people who understand, meeting every week, without fail.
Muslim Charity is proud to host The Survivors Club at our Hessel Street Hub, providing a safe and welcoming home for this vital work.
How It Works
Each Tuesday evening, participants gather for a facilitated group discussion led by Kate. There is no pressure to speak and no agenda beyond connection; participants are welcome to share as much or as little as they choose. Sessions then move into smaller, more informal conversations over refreshments, allowing women to leave feeling settled and at ease rather than exposed.
Throughout each session, hand sewing supplies are available as an optional mindful activity. Working with your hands while talking can ease the weight of difficult conversations, helping participants stay present and grounded. No sewing experience is needed, and Kate is on hand to guide anyone who would like to try. For many women, the sewing becomes the gentle, low-pressure reason to keep coming back.
Why This Work Matters
One in four women in the UK will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. For many, the trauma does not end with the event itself, it continues in the silence that follows. The isolation. The absence of spaces where their experience can be named, heard, and met with understanding rather than judgement.
Recovery from sexual violence does not happen in isolation. Research consistently shows that peer support; being genuinely understood by others who have lived something similar, plays a vital role in helping survivors rebuild a sense of safety, self-worth, and belonging. For women from marginalised communities, where stigma and cultural barriers can make speaking out even harder, access to a space like this can be life-changing.
Many of the women who come to The Survivors Club have never spoken about their experiences before. Some have carried their stories alone for years. The group does not ask them to perform recovery or follow a prescribed path; it simply offers consistency, warmth, and the reassurance that they are not alone in what they have been through.
A Space Built on Trust
Every aspect of The Survivors Club is shaped by the values of safety, confidentiality, and community. Sessions are small and intimate. All volunteers are trained in safeguarding and hold an enhanced DBS check. Nothing shared within the group leaves the room.
Here in the UK, this kind of work is made possible by the dedication of volunteers, partners, and supporters who believe that every woman deserves to be heard. The Survivors Club is one part of a broader commitment; to serve those who need it most, with care, integrity, and purpose.
Come and Join Us
If you have experienced sexual violence (recently or in the past) and are looking for a space where you can speak freely, listen, or simply be in the company of others who understand, you are very welcome at The Survivors Club.
You do not need to have spoken about your experience before.
You do not need to be at any particular stage of your journey.
You just need to show up, everything else can follow in your own time.
The Survivors Club meets every Tuesday, 6:30–8:30pm, Hessel Street Hub, 11 Hessel Street, Whitechapel. Let us know if you'd like to join by reaching out to kate@thesurvivorsclub.co.uk
If you have childcare responsibilities during the session times, let us know and we can ask one of our childcare volunteers to support. If there are any other barrier preventing you from attending, please reach out to olivia@muslimcharity.org.uk and we will do our best to make sure you can attend.
How You Can Help
The Survivors Club is free for every woman who walks through the door. Refreshments, sewing supplies, and all session materials are provided at no cost to participants, because we believe that nothing should stand between a survivor and the support she needs.
Donate Your donation helps keep the sessions running; covering the cost of refreshments, sewing supplies, and the resources that make each Tuesday evening possible.
Every contribution, however small, plays a direct role in keeping this space open and welcoming.
Contact Kate to see how you can donate.
Volunteer We have two volunteer roles supporting The Survivors Club, and we'd love to hear from you if either feels like a good fit.
Support Volunteer - Work alongside Kate to welcome participants, help facilitate sessions, and offer one-to-one support to women who want to talk privately. This role sits at the heart of the group and requires warmth, empathy, and a commitment to confidentiality.
See the full role description here.
Childcare Volunteer - By looking after children during sessions, you make it possible for mothers to attend and engage fully. If you're patient, energetic, and good with young children, this role could be a brilliant fit.
See the full role description here.