The Jessica Project

Trigger warning ‼️domestic abuse, emotional abuse, trauma

There is a moment a survivor never forgets.

The moment the man they had fallen for, the man who felt like home, reveals himself for who he truly is.

The puffed out chest. The wide, frightening eyes. The cruelty in his voice. Not an ounce of the kind, sweet person they had fallen for so deeply.

No remorse. No empathy. Nothing but a cold, callous, calculating soul staring back at them.

That is the moment they realise: the man they loved was never real.

He was a mask, worn to win them over, to make them feel like he was the soulmate they had desperately needed. He mirrored their hopes, their softness, their dreams, until they were fully open, fully trusting, fully his.

Then the mask slipped.

And they are left grieving for someone who never existed. Mourning a love that was built as a trap. Facing an evil they did not know they could see up close.

No one prepares you for that truth.

But you are seen. You are believed. You are believed here at The Jessica Project. As survivors ourselves we remember this moment too well. It is painful, it is a shock to your nervous system and we can support you through this.

You are not alone.

💖 NFA DOESN’T MEAN IT DIDN’T HAPPEN. 💖

At The Jessica Project, we remain deeply saddened by the way some survivors are treated after finding the courage to disclose r**e or sexual assault.

One of the biggest misconceptions we continue to see is that “No Further Action” (NFA) means the allegation was false.

It doesn’t.

For r**e and sexual assault, NFA is one of the most common outcome for reasons completely outside of the survivor’s control.

The criminal justice system has a very high threshold. Prosecutors must consider whether there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction, and ultimately a jury must be sure of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. That is a legal test. It is not the same as deciding whether someone’s experience happened.

A case reaching an NFA outcome can reflect the available evidence, not the worth, credibility, or courage of the person who came forward.

Too often, survivors are then met with victimisation, re-traumatisation, retaliation, gossip, bullying, or cruel assumptions.

Please don’t add to the trauma of someone who has already endured something that many of us couldn’t begin to imagine.

Instead, offer kindness, compassion and understanding.

Listen without judgement and support without expectation.

Whether someone receives justice through the courts or not, they still deserve dignity, respect, and the opportunity to heal.

In a world where so much of it feels expensive, please remember this…

Basic human kindness is free.

Let’s be a generation that believes, supports, and treats survivors with the compassion they deserve 💖

✨ Confidence Building Workshops ✨

Did you know that we deliver Confidence Building Workshops for women both in person and online 💗

At The Jessica Project, we believe healing looks different for everyone. That’s why we’re passionate about creating innovative, survivor centred support that goes beyond traditional services.

Our confidence building workshops are holistic, gentle, interactive and empowering, providing a safe space to reconnect with yourself, build self belief, share meaningful conversations and begin shifting your mindset towards healing and hope.

We have a number of sessions booked through the summer and are grateful for anyone trusting us to be part of their survivors’ journeys. ❤️

If you’re an organisation, refuge or community group interested in booking one of our Confidence Building Workshops, we’d love to hear from you.

📧 [email protected]

🩷 This July, we are proud to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month.

As a South Asian woman and founder of The Jessica Project, this month holds a special place in my heart. It is an opportunity to celebrate the richness, strength and diversity of our communities, while also creating space for the conversations that too often remain unheard.

Throughout the month, Hear Me Now The Podcast will be bringing you two very special episodes featuring an all South Asian women’s forum and an all South Asian men’s forum.

Together, we’ll be exploring honest conversations around:
✨ Violence Against Women and Girls
✨ South Asian identity and culture
✨ Breaking stigma and silence
✨ Masculinity and allyship
✨ Lived experiences

Real change begins with conversation. By bringing together voices from across our communities, we hope to challenge harmful attitudes, celebrate positive change and remind every survivor that they are seen, heard and never alone.

We can’t wait to introduce our incredible panel of guests very soon.

Let’s celebrate our heritage, honour our stories and continue working together towards safer, stronger communities for everyone.

🤍 Who would you love to see join our South Asian panels? Tag them below!

💖 TOGETHER, WE STAND. TOGETHER, WE ACT. 💖

This weekend, we had the privilege of standing alongside the family and friends of Zara Aleena at the annual vigil in her memory.

Every year, the community comes together not only to remember Zara, but to honour every woman and girl whose life has been impacted by male violence against women and girls. Their legacy deserves action, not silence.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to the BBC London for covering this important story and helping shine a national spotlight on the reality of violence against women and girls. Media coverage like this keeps these conversations alive and reminds us all that there is still so much work to do.

It was also incredibly powerful to stand alongside local MPs, councillors, advocates, organisations, and the Metropolitan Police . Seeing so many people united in one place sends a clear message: this is everyone’s issue, and it will take all of us working together to create lasting change.

At The Jessica Project, one of our core beliefs is that everyone has a role to play in preventing violence against women and girls.

That is why we proudly support the work of Zara’s aunt, Farah Naz, and her campaign for a Good Samaritan Law. Empowering communities to step in safely and confidently when they witness harmful behaviour has the potential to save lives.

It’s also why we have developed our own Bystander Intervention Training. We want to give people the confidence, knowledge, and practical skills to recognise harmful behaviour, intervene safely where appropriate, and help create communities where violence and harassment are challenged rather than ignored.

Prevention starts long before a crime is committed.

It starts with challenging harmful attitudes.
It starts with calling out misogyny.
It starts with supporting one another.
It starts with all of us.

Together, we can create communities where women and girls feel safer, valued, and respected.

Together, we can make a difference.

💖 In memory of Zara. In solidarity with every survivor. In pursuit of a safer future.

💖 HELLO JULY 💖

A brand new month is here, bringing with it a fresh opportunity to reset, refocus, and continue becoming the person you deserve to be.

Healing doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the small choices we make every day that slowly transform our lives.

This month, choose to protect your peace.

Spend time with people who bring out the best in you.

Move your body in a way that makes you feel strong.

Celebrate every small win, because progress is still progress.

Practise gratitude, even on the difficult days. Research shows that gratitude can improve wellbeing, reduce stress, and help us shift our focus from what we’ve lost to what we’re building.

Be kind to yourself.

Take action towards your goals, no matter how small the step.

And remember, your healing journey isn’t about becoming someone else, it’s about reconnecting with who you truly are.

As survivors, we’ve spent enough time simply surviving.

This July, let’s make time to truly live.

Here’s to protecting our peace, embracing new opportunities, and continuing to grow together.

We believe in every single one of you. 💖

Please come and join us for a warm drink, some friendly faces with no expectations tomorrow in Bracknell

We look forward to warmly welcoming you 🌹

💖 SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS NOT HARMLESS. IT IS NOT “JUST BANTER.” 💖

We’ve been reflecting on just how much violence against women and girls is still happening in our communities.

Sexual harassment is often dismissed, laughed off, or excused as “banter,” “flirting,” or “boys being boys.”

It isn’t.

Sexual harassment sits towards the lower end of the continuum of violence against women and girls. When harmful attitudes and behaviours go unchallenged, they can become normalised. That’s why it’s so important to challenge them early, before they become accepted as part of everyday life.

Far too many women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, on public transport, in pubs, cafés, shops, on the street, at the gym, or simply walking home.

Many of us at The Jessica Project have experienced it ourselves.

What’s equally heartbreaking is how often it happens in front of others… and no one steps in.

Of course, there are people who do intervene, and those moments can make an enormous difference. We need more of that.

Creating safer communities isn’t just the responsibility of survivors or the police. It’s something we all have a role in.

That’s exactly why we’re so passionate about delivering Bystander Intervention Training.

We want to equip people with the confidence and practical skills to recognise concerning behaviour, intervene safely where appropriate, and help create environments where harassment is no longer ignored or accepted.

Because silence protects harmful behaviour.

Action protects people.

Sexual harassment is never a compliment.
It is never acceptable.
And it should never be something women are expected to simply put up with.

Together, let’s build communities where everyone feels safe, respected, and supported.

Enough is enough. 💖