HUSH - Book - Page 9
page 9
HUSH – Breaking the Silence | Victim Support Scotland
FOREWORD
The Support for Families Bereaved by Crime (SFBC) service
is unique and ground-breaking, and the only service of its
kind in Scotland.
Being a family member of a murder victim can be
hugely traumatic. Many of the people we support experience a range of emotional reactions, are worried about the
future and about how they will cope. This is where the
incredible SFBC team step in. They provide answers to
practical questions family members have in the first days
and weeks following on from the crime, while also helping
with access to specialist trauma and counselling services.
As an organisation the policy making and decisions
that shape our services are led by the experiences of people affected by crime. The Lived Experience Project does
exactly this, highlighting the experiences of families and
their journeys through the criminal justice system after
losing a loved one to crime.
Throughout this book, you will hear the stories of the
families we support and what they experienced in the days,
weeks and months following the life-changing crimes of
murder and culpable homicide. This project aims to spotlight not only the victims of these awful crimes, but also the
people they leave behind, who find themselves in a position
they never thought they would be in.
Readers will hear the stories and see the images that articulate the feelings and emotions of the families we have
worked with on this project, and how they have begun to
work towards moving forward following the loss of a loved
one.
I truly hope readers of this book will be encouraged by
the strength shown by families during the darkest period of
their lives, while also acknowledging the changes that are
necessary to the criminal justice system.
I would like to extend my thanks to those who have
made this book and project possible. And most especially,
to the families for bravely sharing their unique stories with
the organisation in order to help encourage change for
those in the future who may, unfortunately, go through
something similar.
Kate Wallace
Chief Executive
Victim Support Scotland