Impact of Abuse

Calli Marie Brighton was taken into care at the age of seven. 

She spent the next fourteen years in and out of foster homes, never staying in one place for more than eighteen months, and relying on music to help her deal with what she had experienced. 

Now, the 25-year-old has teamed up with Fixers to create a music video for her song Straight up now it hurts as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the long term effects of abuse.  

‘When you’re in that situation of abuse you don’t know any different until you’re actually out of it,’ she explains.  

Calli, from Birmingham, wants to encourage victims not to be afraid of the repercussions of speaking out. 

‘I don’t want anyone else to think that being silent is the right thing to do because in the long run it’s not; it’s best to deal with it then and there, or it can escalate into more problems.’ 

The young woman hopes to start a blog offering advice to abuse survivors. ‘I want to have an effect beyond just local people because I know this situation is happening far and beyond,’ she explained. ‘It would feel like a purpose, like I’ve gone through it all to help somebody else.’

Calli's project was supported by Colyer Fergusson.

To find other resources on this topic, and watch Fixers films, click on the image below.