Breaking the silence. Raising awareness. Giving survivors hope.

The Recovery Initiative was founded by Matt Penn, a childhood sexual abuse survivor, author, speaker, and advocate.

Our mission is simple: to make it easier for survivors to reach out for help.

For too many people, shame, fear, guilt, and silence become barriers to speaking out. Many survivors spend years believing they are alone, that nobody will understand, or that what happened to them somehow defines who they are.

The Recovery Initiative exists to challenge those beliefs.

Through lived experience, storytelling, writing, media appearances, and awareness campaigns, we aim to shine a light on the realities of childhood sexual abuse and its lifelong impact.

We believe that when survivors see someone speaking openly, honestly, and without shame, it becomes easier for them to take that first step towards support.

This is not a counselling service.

This is not therapy.

This is advocacy.

A place dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, encouraging conversations, and helping survivors understand that what happened to them was not their fault.

Every survivor deserves to know they are not alone.

Every survivor deserves to know that help exists.

Every survivor deserves hope.

Together, we can break the silence.

I understand because I have lived it...

My name is Matt Penn. I am a childhood sexual abuse survivor, author, speaker, and advocate. For many years I carried my experiences in silence, believing I was alone and that nobody would understand. Today, I share my story openly to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and help other survivors realise that what happened to them was not their fault.

👉 About me

Supporting The Initiative

The Recovery Initiative is completely independent and driven by lived experience.

Every article, video, interview, and awareness campaign is created with one goal: helping survivors realise they are not alone and that reaching out for help is possible.

If you believe in this mission and would like to support the work, you can make a contribution. Your support helps keep survivor stories visible, challenge stigma, raise awareness, and reach the people who need to hear these messages most. Thank you for helping us break the silence.

👉 Stand With Survivors & Recovery

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