Opening Up

Opening Up is a survivor-led project focused on ending sexual abuse by health and care professionals. Founded by researcher and victim-survivor Joni Browne, it brings lived experience together with public health research to understand abuse and develop practical ways to prevent it. Its work explores who perpetrates abuse, the risk factors involved, the impact on survivors and the wider costs, including those to the NHS. It also examines why previous interventions have fallen short and what approaches could be more effective.

Opening Up uses methods such as tribunal-record analysis, literature reviews, public-body data, interviews, surveys and comparisons of past investigations. The project aims to raise public awareness, provide education, and create and test creative, evidence-based interventions. Its work considers existing measures, including chaperone policies and reporting systems, while seeking to inform better solutions. Visitors can learn about the project’s mission, research plan and findings, or contact the team to enquire or get involved.