Theknock.club was the first community-led website to emerge in recent years. I caught up with the owner to find out more about the motivation for creating the website and hopes for the future.
What was the motivation for creating theknock.club website?
When I came together with the community, in 2020, it was a turning point on the journey; it made a huge difference to know that other people were going through similar experiences and I wasn’t on my own.
Research became a very useful tool and we sought out research and circulated it back and forth, within the community. It was also helpful to some of us dealing with social services.
It was at that point when the seed was sown for the idea for a central hub, where we could collate all of the research – it was something that was missing, and much needed.
So, I went about building a website for family members, including the most recent research. I was motivated to create a platform to elevate community voices, and to raise awareness so that families are well-prepared. Also, so that any professionals working with families can understand the research and incorporate it into evidence-based practice.
Who is the website for?
The purpose of the website is dual; firstly to give a platform and a voice to families thus highlighting that families are secondary victims; secondly, to encourage professionals to refer to research, helping them to better support families.
What changes would you like to see?
Strategically, we need the legislation to catch up with the research which, in turn, needs to be rolled out to professionals. Specific training courses need to be available to professionals, to help them to understand and to challenge stereotypes. Anyone working with families in the fallout of the knock needs to be trauma informed, and to understand the hyper vigilant state people are left in. Also, professionals really need to appreciate the role of family members, who often have to put up a front to the world, whilst managing the shock, trauma, and fallout of the knock. It's a really difficult situation and it would help if professionals could be more sympathetic to what's going on for a family. Perhaps university courses could incorporate learning on this.
There's another part to it, which is the media. The tabloid splashes need to be challenged urgently for the protection of children and family members. The current situation is just not acceptable because it puts the physical and psychological safety of innocent family members at risk.
Through increased awareness of pathways to offending, there will be more understanding of what family members and children go through. Everyone has a role to play online, and offline, through being sympathetic and avoiding further traumatising these families.
Pornhub has recently been challenged in court. The people who are publishing this material need to be prosecuted because they have created a cultural shift into encouraging its users into consuming more vulgar and illegal material. Pornhub also turned a blind eye to sex trafficking operating on its platform and was ordered to pay £1.42m in damages in 2024.
The material offenders are looking at is freely available on the open web. This material is undeniably accessible and alarmingly encouraged by the algorithms. It would be hard not find it when looking at a porn site. Algorithms are creating and enhancing fetishes.
Perhaps an image or video might appear in the form of a thumbnail on screen which will then be cached in a browser, and then immediately, an offence is committed for the individual, whilst the platform has no accountability for what has just happened. In fact, the platform has monetized the offence, profiting from crime.
What should be happening is that the internet should be made safer with filters to detect the upload to protect children. Governments need to come down on these. platforms and stop this, urgently.
What are your goals for the next few years?
In terms of the knock website, it would be good to capture comments from people who have been through the knock. It would focus on the best therapies and counselling that has helped them. The section could even make recommendations to others on the best therapists. Personally, I hope to complete my own diploma in counselling. This journey has highlighted the need for more counsellors who can truly empathise with knock survivors.
The sooner people have counselling, the better – access to free counselling following the Knock would be most helpful.
Another part of the website that I would like to develop is a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’, ‘FAQ’ section to help people to find information quickly.
What support do you need or would be most helpful for you and for the website?
I really need someone who is willing to help me with social media; someone who is consistent, who can be a social media presence at least once a week.
What's something you want people to know about the knock website?
My heart goes out immediately to the families. I would like people to know that they are legitimate in their suffering, even though the world may not make them feel like they are.
X: @TheKnock_
email: info@theknock.club
My name is Annie Hope. I am a writer with lived experience as a family member of someone who had the Knock. I am a professional writer, and I am able to work with your organisation, charity or with you as an individual in a variety of different ways. Please have a look at my website to find out more.
I run a free writing group for family members of those who are convicted of sexual offences. You can find out more about the group here. You can find blog posts with free advice about writing and helpful tips in my main blog index here.
You can contact me by email anniehopewriter@gmail.com
Comentarios