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It truly takes a community

In order to destigmatise talking about childhood sexual abuse, we need as many people as possible to contribute to this platform. Alongside Sophia as our full-time team, we have an incredible networkof collaborators, mentors and volunteers.

Sophia Luu

Founder and Organiser

(she/her)

Sophia is a designer who specialises in topics that people find difficult to talk about. After experiencing sexual abuse as a child, she has spent her life having conversations about it.... with friends, partners, family, and eventually legal and support services. She found that, sometimes, managing the negative reactions and discomfort around talking about the abuse could be just as bad as the abuse itself snd built secrets to offer an alternative, joyful narrative that can educate others. As a trauma-informed designer & trained mental health first aider, she developed a methodology of ‘Serious Joy’ when conducting design research, and is CPD certified by the Centre of Expertise on Childhood Sexual Abuse. She is representing the UK on the Survivor Council for the first ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Childhood Violence (WHO/UNICEF). Her work on childhood sexual abuse has been featured in Grazia Magazine and the BBC.

Our Team

These are the people who are working with us regularly to make sure that Secrets runs smoothly on an everyday basis!

Amari Leigh

(she/her)

Virtual Assistant

Amari is the founder of Admin by Amari, a sex-positive virtual assistant business dedicated to providing seamless administrative, personal assistance, and social media support to professionals in the sexual wellness and women's rights industries. In addition to running her business, she is an Accredited Sex and Relationship Educator and is currently training as a Clinical Sexologist and Sex Coach.

Ana Williams

(she/her)

Mentor

Drawing from her personal journey as a CSA survivor and extensive experience in leadership, operations management, and business development, Ana provides founders and organizations with practical advice and mentorship. With a proven track record in the beauty industry, as the former Chief Operating Officer at The GelBottle Inc. and pivotal roles at Beautystack, NAF!, and Tribe, her approach blends open conversations and empathy with actionable insights, fostering both personal and professional growth.

Supporting Directors

These are the people who regularly support and advice on the direction of Secrets Worth Sharing from a decision making level. We meet quarterly.

Dr Lyndsay McLean

(she/her)

Supporting Co-Director

Lyndsay is a part-time Reader in Anthropology and International Development and an independent consultant in international development, working mainly on gender violence, children and youth, conflict, violence and reconciliation. She is the course convenor for the Gender, Violence and Conflict MA at Sussex University. As a qualified yoga teacher, she also runs Ahimsa space yoga retreats.

Safiya Ahmed

(she/her)

Supporting Co-Director

Safiya Ahmed is a designer and lecturer in BA Graphic Design at University of Westminster and University of the Arts London (UAL). She is also the co-founder of Ricebox Studio, an award-winning design studio using creative tech and visual communication for social good. As a graphic designer, she works on projects across a broad range of disciplines and has collaborated with organisations such as Samsung, Plan International, Tate, Lego, Somerset House and the Design Museum, to name a few.

Episode Contributors

Crew

Our Contributors

Many wonderful people* have given their time, mentorship and stories to make our platform possible:

(from left to right) Asian man, white and asian woman, hijabi Indian woman and Black man around camera equipment

Wren Knight – Human Rights Lawyer
Jeremy Indika – Founder, Something To Say
Ray O’Neill – Assistant Professor in Psychotherapy, University of Dublin
Sabian Muhammad – Deaf content creator, aka The Uberhuman
Dr Anujavahinie Suntharamoorthy, CAMHS psychiatrist and Director of ANBU UK
Rachel An Vu, bilingual existential psychotherapist
Michael Tigchelaar – Writer and Sophia’s Fiancé

Quyen Nguyen – Camera, Sound and Post-production
Jeremie Moludi – Camera and Sound
Cassandra Vida – Runner and Sound
Safiya Ahmed – Runner
Michael Tigchelaar – Runner
Ali Gill – Post-Production Producer and editing support
Vuong Ngo – Standby Mental Health support for all shoots
Aliya Akram – Reels design
Roxy van der Post - Photographer

Episode Reviewers

Translations

white man on right smiling at a mixed asian and white woman while a camera is looking at them

Many thanks to those who volunteered their time and expertise to check the tone and consistency of the episodes pre-release:

Mireille Harper
Ruby Kwong
Ishwari Bhalerao

Many thanks to our translators for doing the transcriptions for our Vietnamese Language and Culture episode:

Minh Huynh (Viet-English)
Mai Phuong (English- Viet)
Binh Vu (webisode)

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Listening Club Facilitation

Venues

Lou - Co-Host, Queer Listening Club
Bava - Co-Host, Queer Listening Club
Elijas - Facilitator, Queer Listening Club
Chris - Chef, Queer Listening Club
Dr Ray - Co-Host, Queer Listening Club Dublin
Lyndsay McLean - Co-Host, Institutions Listening Club, Hove
Lu Simatele - Co-Host, Cultural Sensitivity, Hove
Andrew Asibong - Co-Host, Film Clubs

Special thanks to Laura and Trey at X & Why Whitechapel for volunteering their venue for Season 1 of filming, and our listening club venues:

Fundraising Support

Talycia Nayee, supporting with writing funding grants for National Lottery

Special Thanks

Imogen Phillips and Ethan Phoenix-Kentish from Platf9m Hove, for building a partnership with us for venues and events in Hove, and providing essential business admin, like an address!
To Jollof Cafe and Abdoulaye from Le Baobab - chefs who provide the food for our Brighton Listening Clubs

*Note: Due to the social stigma and silence associated with child sexual abuse, some people who contributed to this series have either used an alias or chosen to not include their names in this list.