At PEGS, we work closely with the media and have contributed to stories on national news channels, within newspaper, magazines and various online platforms. Where media organisations want to include details of a family’s experience within their story, we have parents who have incredibly bravely stepped forward and shared their experiences.

We always insist that parents’ stories are kept completely anonymous, meaning their names and other identifying details are not used, their image is blurred or otherwise distorted, and usually their voices are either changed or their words are spoken by an actor.

It must be said that we have found the media extremely responsive and willing to do all of this to ensure the anonymity of the interviewees.

Once they agree to these conditions, then we will ask parents for an interview, to be filmed, or even to send across a written account of their experiences. It’s made clear that parents can change their mind at any point after agreeing to share their story.

It’s important parents feel safe and that not only they, but also their child, are protected throughout the process and aren’t identifiable from the story.

Michelle’s experience

When it comes to the lived experience of Founding Director Michelle John, she has always been open about the fact PEGS was set up as a result of the CPA she lived through.

But Michelle does not disclose the details of her experience, not only because she feels this is the right thing to do for all of her family, but also because she feels it’s important that other experiences of CPA aren't compared to her story.

If parents are experiencing different behaviours then this may discourage them from approaching PEGS for support and that’s something we’d never want – because CPA has a very real impact on all parents/carers/guardians living through it (and even after the behaviours have stopped), no matter what the specifics of their experience are.

So, we will continue to share anonymous case studies (only where parents are completely happy to do so) and the details of Michelle’s story will continue to remain private.