Latest news with #SpeakOut
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow teacher to take on Great Wall of China trek
Angela Sloan, who has lived in Glasgow for nearly 30 years, will take on the challenge this September to raise funds for Childline. It will see her walk 10km a day for five consecutive days along one of the world's most iconic landmarks. Read more: 'Excited and proud': Glasgow headteacher welcomes £2m boost for new school Jules Colin, Martin Whelan, Angela Sloan, Sandra Jones, and Megan Williams (Image: Supplied) Angela, 62, is part of a group of 18 fundraisers calling themselves the "Tartan Trailblazers." She said: "Young people are under more pressure than ever and some of the support services that were in place are either not there anymore or past capacity with long waiting times, so it feels like Childline is needed even more now. "That's why raising money for Childline is so important. "It helps ensure that there is always someone at the end of the phone when a child calls. "While the conversations can be about troubling topics, from my own experience it always feels like the young person has benefited from having someone to talk to in a confidential way.' Angela, who has nearly 40 years of experience in teaching, has volunteered as a Childline counsellor for seven and a half years. She first became interested in volunteering for Childline after meeting NSPCC staff during school visits for workshops such as Speak Out and Stay Safe. The experienced teacher said: "I was winding down my career and went part-time, so I was looking for something else to do and that seemed like a natural fit. "The training is incredible and it's definitely something I am proud of, but the service needs support so it would be amazing if people can donate to our fundraiser." Donations can be made online at Angela has previously completed a 10k run and a coastal walk around the Isle of Arran to support the NSPCC. The Great Wall trek, which includes around 10,000 uneven steps each day, will be her most challenging yet. The trek, organised through travel firm Charity Challenge, along the Ming Dynasty masterpiece, will follow the winding path along the Yan Mountains to the Gubeikou Gateway which takes in the well-known 'heavenly staircase'. Sandra Jones on a previous trek along the Great Wall of China (Image: Supplied) Read more: Thousands of children seeking advice on dealing with anger issues A typical day will start at 7am, with walkers exposed to the elements, rain, and wind, every day. Angela added: "A lot of people can walk that much in one day without a problem, but it's getting up and doing it the next day, and the day after that, that's going to be the biggest challenge." Funds raised will support NSPCC services including Childline, the adult Helpline, and educational programmes such as Talk PANTS and Speak Out Stay Safe, which strive to help stop child abuse and neglect.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Virginia Guiffre's dad insists she didn't die by suicide, claims someone ‘got to' her
The father of Virginia Giuffre, one of the most outspoken survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse, has claimed his daughter did not die by suicide. Giuffre, 41, died by suicide in Neergabby, Australia last week, according to a statement from her family last week. But now, her father Sky Roberts has questioned that version of events, telling Piers Morgan he believes someone 'got to her' Giuffre. 'First of all, I couldn't even believe it. I mean, I started crying right away,' Roberts said when asked about Giuffre's death. 'I'm still crying. I can't believe that this is happening. It's impossible.' 'And then for them to say that she committed suicide, there's no way that she did,' he continued. 'Somebody got to her.' Roberts added that Giuffre was 'very strong' and 'had too much to live for.' Morgan also asked Roberts what he would say to those who doubted his daughter's claims of sexual abuse. 'I believed everything she said,' Roberts responded. 'She was my daughter.' Giuffre was an advocate for sexual abuse survivors, even founding the non-profit Speak Out, Act, Reclaim. The organization is 'dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other.' Giuffre was also one of the first people to call for criminal charges against Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 after his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. Giuffre recounted how she was groomed by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell - to be sexually abused by Epstein. She even provided key information to law enforcement that helped prosecutors ultimately convict Maxwell in 2021. Fellow survivors of Epstein's abuse also credit Giuffre with helping give them the courage to speak out. According to interviews and depositions, Giuffre said she was recruited by Maxwell while working as a locker room attendant in Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago. She once said Epstein passed her around 'like a platter of fruit' to other men when she was a teenager. She also accused Epstein of trafficking her to Prince Andrew when she was 17, which he has denied. In 2009, Giuffre (then identified only as Jane Doe) sued Epstein and Maxwell, claiming they recruited her to join a sex-trafficking ring as a minor under the false promise of becoming a professional masseuse. Giuffre went on to identify herself publicly in 2015. She went on to sue Prince Andrew in 2021, settling with him a year later. The settlement sum went towards Giuffre's organization, Speak Out, Act, Reclaim. Her family announced her death last Friday. 'It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia,' Giuffre's family said in a statement provided to The Independent. 'She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.' Giuffre was a 'fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking,' the statement continues. 'She was the light that lifted so many survivors. Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.' Giuffre appeared to have health problems leading up to her death. She posted a photo of herself with a bruised face in a hospital bed on Instagram earlier this year, explaining that doctors told her she had 'four days to live' due to kidney failure following a car wreck. She was discharged from the hospital six days later. Giuffre was also supposed to appear in court on April 9 after being charged with violating a family violence restraining order obtained by her husband, People reported. She allegedly violated the order by calling her husband on February 2. However, her court appearance was postponed at the request of her attorney, and a judge granted her an extension until June to enter a plea. If you are based in the U.S. and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to to find a helpline near you. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can also speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
The Independent
01-05-2025
- The Independent
Virginia Guiffre's dad insists she didn't die by suicide, claims someone ‘got to' her
The father of Virginia Giuffre, one of the most outspoken survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse who died last month, has claimed his daughter did not die by suicide. Giuffre, 41, died by suicide in Neergabby, Australia, according to a statement from her family last week. But now, her father Sky Roberts has questioned that version of events, telling Piers Morgan he believes someone 'got to her' Giuffre. 'First of all, I couldn't even believe it. I mean, I started crying right away,' Roberts said when asked about Giuffre's death. 'I'm still crying. I can't believe that this is happening. It's impossible.' 'And then for them to say that she committed suicide, there's no way that she did,' he continued. 'Somebody got to her.' Roberts added that Giuffre was 'very strong' and 'had too much to live for.' Morgan also asked Roberts what he would say to those who doubted his daughter's claims of sexual abuse. 'I believed everything she said,' Roberts responded. 'She was my daughter.' Giuffre was an advocate for sexual abuse survivors, even founding the non-profit Speak Out, Act, Reclaim. The organization is 'dedicated to providing a safe and empowering space for survivors of sex trafficking to reclaim their stories and stand up for themselves and each other.' Giuffre was also one of the first people to call for criminal charges against Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 after his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. Giuffre recounted how she was groomed by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell - to be sexually abused by Epstein. She even provided key information to law enforcement that helped prosecutors ultimately convict Maxwell in 2021. Fellow survivors of Epstein's abuse also credit Giuffre with helping give them the courage to speak out. According to interviews and depositions, Giuffre said she was recruited by Maxwell while working as a locker room attendant in Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago. She once said Epstein passed her around 'like a platter of fruit' to other men when she was a teenager. She also accused Epstein of trafficking her to Prince Andrew when she was 17, which he has denied. In 2009, Giuffre (then identified only as Jane Doe) sued Epstein and Maxwell, claiming they recruited her to join a sex-trafficking ring as a minor under the false promise of becoming a professional masseuse. Giuffre went on to identify herself publicly in 2015. She went on to sue Prince Andrew in 2021, settling with him a year later. The settlement sum went towards Giuffre's organization, Speak Out, Act, Reclaim. Her family announced her death last Friday. 'It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia,' Giuffre's family said in a statement provided to The Independent. 'She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.' Giuffre was a 'fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking,' the statement continues. 'She was the light that lifted so many survivors. Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.' Giuffre appeared to have health problems leading up to her death. She posted a photo of herself with a bruised face in a hospital bed on Instagram earlier this year, explaining that doctors told her she had 'four days to live' due to kidney failure following a car wreck. She was discharged from the hospital six days later. Giuffre was also supposed to appear in court on April 9 after being charged with violating a family violence restraining order obtained by her husband, People reported. She allegedly violated the order by calling her husband on February 2. However, her court appearance was postponed at the request of her attorney, and a judge granted her an extension until June to enter a plea. If you are based in the U.S. and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to to find a helpline near you. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can also speak to the Samaritans
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Read the handwritten note Virginia Giuffre left behind after her suicide - as her brother shares her powerful message from beyond the grave: 'Not going away'
Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre left behind a handwritten note with a message of support for sexual abuse survivors before she died by suicide last Friday night. Her family revealed they found the note among her possessions at the Neergabby farmhouse, 80km north of Perth, Western Australia, where her body was discovered. Giuffre's brother Sky Roberts shared an image of the note which he believed was intended to be sent to a protest rally outside the White House in Washington today. In it, in a section which was partially obscured, she told supporters: 'We are not going to go away.' She added: 'Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers need to show the battlelines are drawn and we stand together to fight for the future of victims. 'Is protesting the answer - I don't know, but we've got to start somewhere.' It's believed Giuffre wrote the message for organisers of the Washington rally of sexual assault survivors being held in Lafayette Park, opposite the White House, ahead of Denim Day on April 30. Giuffre became famous as a victim of Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who she accused of sex trafficking her to Prince Andrew when she was just 17. The Royal has always denied the allegations but reportedly paid her millions to settle a lawsuit over her claims against him. Her death came just weeks after she said on social media she only had four days to live following a car crash, which police later described as a minor collision. She had recently split with her Australian husband of 22 years, Robert Giuffre, and had admitted her heartbreak at being estranged from her three teenage children. Her brothers Sky and Danny Wilson had been staying with Giuffre at her $1.3million farmhouse in the wake of the furore over her claims to be on her deathbed. On Wednesday, Roberts shared the note on social media and added: 'Hello world, we received news today that there is a protest in [Washington] DC. 'We found a handwritten note that our sister Virginia wrote. 'I think it's important that survivors know that she is with you and her voice will not be silenced. 'I know that it's so important and her wish is that we continue to fight her words are.' No other details regarding the note were revealed by Roberts - in his first-ever Instagram post - but he underlined its importance by reposting it to his Stories. 'That first post feeling,' he wrote across the second post. He also added the hashtags #victimsrefusesilence #virginiaroberts #solidarity #survivor #strengththroughstrides #SOAR SOAR - Speak Out, Act and Reclaim - was Giuffre's foundation which she set up to provide a safe place for survivors of sex trafficking. Roberts also added the butterfly emoji which his sister often used to depict freedom. Hours after the post appeared, just two comments had been made by his followers. 'I miss her,' posted one, and Roberts replied: 'We'll take time to mourn but we'll turn this pain into strength.' Another added: 'Her legacy will be carried on,' and Roberts agreed: 'Absolutely.' The rally in Washington will see sex abuse survivors march on the Lincoln Memorial, led by Summer Willis, who was raped as a 19-year old college student. She didn't initially report the attack to police but in the 11 years since, she has fought for greater support for victims and new laws to define sexual consent. The march comes on the eve of Denim Day, named after a case in Italy where a judge dismissed a teenage girl's rape allegations because she was wearing tight jeans and must therefore have consented and co-operated. Giuffre escaped Epstein's influence after she met her husband-to-be while on a masseuse training course in Thailand, that Epstein had paid for. She had a whirlwind romance with the martial arts instructor and they married within a week in 2002 before moving to the NSW Central Coast in Australia and setting up home together. They lived there for 11 years before moving to the US, until they returned to Australia and bought a $1.7million six-bedroom beachside mansion in Perth in 2020. The marriage is believed to have broken down last year, with Giuffre moving into their weekend getaway farmhouse while her husband remained in Perth with their children. Newly-released court documents seen by Daily Mail Australia reveal Giuffre was living a life of misery in constant pain and needing a full time carer in recent years. Her husband told a court that - prior to their marriage breakdown - he was looking after her around the clock after she broke her neck a 'few years ago'. No further details were given about the injury or how it happened. He lost his driving licence after he was caught speeding home at 147km/h in a 100km/h-zone, but told the court he was rushing to be by his wife's side. He hired a home help for his wife in the wake of his court appearance, and her most recent caregiver was behind the wheel when she was involved in the minor collision with a school bus near her farmhouse that sparked the fears for her life. On Monday, her grieving carer Cheryl Myers, 71, told Daily Mail Australia she was devastated by Giuffre's death, and added: 'Virginia was like a daughter to me.' Giuffre had been facing charges over breaching a family violence prevention order at the time of her suicide. It's believed it related to her trying to text her children. Her husband and children have remained unseen behind the gates of their Perth mansion in the wake of the tragedy. 'Virginia Giuffre lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,' the family said in a statement on her death at the weekend. 'Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors. 'Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.' It's understood Giuffre's US-based family have now flown back to America, with funeral details still shrouded in secrecy. Her barrister Karrie Louden told Daily Mail Australia she had been in contact with Giuffre in the days before her death and was due to meet her on Monday. 'This has been a complete shock to all of us,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Monday. 'If any of us had thought she's going to commit suicide, of course we would have taken more steps, put her into a clinic or got her some more help. 'When I got the phone call, I was like, "Are you joking?" Because there were no signs that was something she was considering.' Ms Louden wouldn't speculate on the circumstances surrounding the mum-of-three's death. 'It's inconclusive. I'm a defence lawyer and I don't like to speculate about things until the evidence is in [and] the evidence is not in,' she said. 'The police told me nothing, they didn't even confirm she was dead. It wasn't suspicious circumstances – it's suicide or misadventure. 'I didn't see her in the room. I wasn't in there. The family said what the family has said but I'm not going to speculate whether it was suicide or accidental. 'You'll all be aware that she's been in hospital. She's been on medications. 'Has she just taken too many painkillers? Was she intentionally doing it? I just, you know… I don't even know what the cause of death was.' Ms Louden said there were no suspicious circumstances 'as far as we are aware'. 'Given the recent activities, it's very likely that we will never know. The police were just very, very vague. I know that she's gone but how that happened, I don't know,' Ms Louden said. 'I'm not sure we'll ever know. I mean, sometimes the coroner might say it was suicide, the coroner might say it was misadventure, the coroner might say inconclusive. 'Physically, she's been very unwell for a long time. But she's a very strong person. She's obviously been through hell.' Ms Louden added that her client 'was in a lot of pain' but was looking forward to what was ahead. 'She wanted to renovate this place and she had plans for the future,' she said. The lawyer said Ms Giuffre's body will likely be released in three weeks but it could take up to two years before a coroner's report is filed on her death.
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The OTHER side of Virginia Giuffre is finally revealed as insiders expose her real role with Jeffrey Epstein - and explode her victim 'myth'
Virginia Giuffre was hailed as a 'fierce warrior' for exposing the sex crimes of the rich and famous against teenage girls - but her legacy is now rocked by fresh claims that she was actually a key part of Jeffrey Epstein 's sex trafficking ring. Giuffre, 41, took her own life on Friday night at her farmhouse in Neergabby, north of Perth after the 'toll of abuse... became unbearable', according to her family. 'She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking,' her loved ones said in a statement after her body was discovered. Giuffre said Epstein and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell kept her as a sex slave, flying her around the world for sex with powerful associates. But those once closest to Giuffre now say she was instrumental to Epstein's abuse of others, and say she should have been locked up along with those she accused. Girls she recruited for the Epstein's 'harem', former friends, an ex-boyfriend and even US federal prosecutors have now branded Giuffre a ' Me Too advocate Molly Brown says Giuffre did nothing to help survivors of abuse, and said Giuffre's foundation SOAR [Speak Out, Act, Reclaim] was just a facade. 'Virginia trafficked girls, this is not a rumour this is on the record and despite this she has faced no accountability,' Ms Brown told Daily Mail Australia. 'While many are mourning her, some of us are breathing easier — not because of cruelty, but because real truth might finally have a chance to surface without her interference.' Ms Brown was initially inspired by Giuffre and reached out for support during her own battle for justice in 2020. But she was devastated when she was then blocked by Giuffre and publicly branded a liar. 'Virginia spent her final years mocking survivors, protecting her power, and lying,' Ms Brown told Daily Mail Australia. 'Virginia's actions, both publicly and privately, caused tremendous harm to real survivors, myself included. 'Her portrayal as an advocate is a myth carefully maintained at the expense of those of us who truly fought to expose the Epstein-Maxwell network. 'Let me make this clear, Virginia was a recruiter, not a victim.' Ms Brown insists that as well as her own experience, she has spoken to multiple other victims who all blame Giuffre for the years of abuse they suffered. Molly Browne was devastated when she was blocked by Giuffre and publicly branded a liar after reaching out to her 'At first, like many, I believed she was brave,' she added. 'I wanted to. I thought she might be fighting for people like me. 'That illusion shattered quickly once I saw her behaviour. 'I reached out to Virginia because I was trafficked as an adult through the Epstein network after already surviving many predators as a young singer. 'I assumed, wrongly, that another survivor would be a safe person to connect with. Instead, I was laughed at, publicly mocked and dismissed.' After Giuffre received the message asking for help from Ms Brown, Giuffre posted a statement to social media to say she believed her story was fabricated and she was suffering with mental health issues. 'Her foundation was a façade,' Ms Brown added. 'It served Virginia's image, not survivors. I never received support. 'I only saw branding, fundraising, and photo ops, no real action, no real help for victims. 'Many survivors tied to Epstein's crimes have confided that they also saw through Virginia's act, some abused by her directly. 'Some are too scared to speak. Some have begun speaking out. More will follow now that she no longer controls the narrative. 'She hijacked the survivor movement to protect herself and to protect certain powerful individuals. 'She sanitised the story to make it digestible for media and lucrative for herself — at the cost of real, still-suffering survivors.' Key prosecution witness Carolyn Andriano was also a prominent Epstein victim but she held Giuffre personally responsible for delivering her into his evil clutches. Andriano was found dead of an accidental overdose in a Palm Beach hotel in May 2023. But she had previously testified at Maxwell's trial that she was recruited by Giuffre who collected her from school and trained her to give sexual massages. 'At 14 years old, I was big-breasted and I definitely could pass for 21 when I was made up,' she said. 'I did my own make-up, but Virginia gave me clothes. She gave me these really tight skimpy shorts with a spaghetti-strap top with all my cleavage hanging out. 'She just said, "Whatever you do, don't say your age". And I didn't even ask why. I went along with it.' Andriano had previously testified at Maxwell's trial that she was recruited by Giuffre who collected her from school and trained her to give sexual massages Andriano claimed that she and Giuffre gave Epstein a nude massage and Giuffre had sex with him. 'I didn't know what to do or say, or where to go, so I sat on the couch and watched until it was finished,' she said. Andriano was given $300 for the massage and says she returned to the villa about 100 times over the next four years where she was repeatedly abused by Epstein. She insisted Giuffre was complicit in her abuse. 'I don't think Virginia deserves anything less than what Maxwell is getting because she trafficked me into a world of spiralling downward slopes,' she added. Giuffre even admitted she was keen to be promoted within the 'molestation pyramid'. 'I escalated up the ladder very quickly for Epstein,' she confessed in a Netflix documentary. 'I did whatever he needed.' According to her then-boyfriend Philip Guderyon: 'She was like the head b***h.' Virginia Giuffre was seen driving with her brother Danny Wilson near her farmhouse just days before she killed herself Mr Guderyon claimed he drove Giuffre to and from Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, adding: 'She'd have like nine or ten girls she used to bring to him.' Mr Guderyon and others who knew Giuffre around the time said she was living the high life, making thousands of dollars a month before her 18th birthday. She bought designer clothes and drove around in Epstein's Mercedes. 'She never looked like she was being held captive,' Mr Guderyon said. 'She'd have like four grand. And then I'd take them all to the mall and they'd get their nails done.' Mr Guderyon's sister Crystal Figueroa, revealed Giuffre often asked her for help in finding girls for Epstein. 'She'd say to me, 'Do you know any girls who are kind of slutty?' Figueroa recalled. 'She would always brag about all the money she had, I don't think anybody was forcing her to do anything.' In 2002 Epstein sent Virginia on a massage course in Thailand for her 19th birthday. It was there she met Australian martial arts instructor Robert Giuffre and and the couple were married after just ten days. They moved to the NSW Central Coast, where the FBI eventually tracked her down and told her they were building a case against Epstein. The federal prosecutors allege that when they asked her in 2007 to assist in the investigation she said '...she did not want to be bothered about the Epstein matter again.' Giuffre changed her tune two years later when she was notified about Epstein's plea deal, which would allow her to collect civil damages. She contacted a lawyer 'within days' and filed a lawsuit in Florida five months later, the federal prosecutors said. She then accepted a settlement of $500,000 from the billionaire. Federal prosecutors later filed a motion portraying her as an opportunist. In 2015 Giuffre sued Ghislaine Maxwell for making defamatory statements about her and reportedly received millions of dollars in an out of court settlement. In 2019 she launched another defamation suit against the lawyer Alan Dershowitz, whom she had named as one of the men Epstein forced her to sleep with. The couple moved to the NSW Central Coast, where the FBI eventually tracked her down and told her they were building a case against Epstein He counter-sued and they eventually settled, with Giuffre admitting: 'I now recognise I may have made a mistake in identifying Mr Dershowitz.' Giuffre's lawyer Sigrid McCawley said the mother-of-three had come forward to set an example for other child sex victims. 'Blaming a minor child who was being sexually trafficked by a wealthy and incredibly powerful individual is irresponsible,' McCawley said.
