Accused.Me.UK was started back in 2014 by a man “James” who found himself at the centre of a malicious allegation of a sexual offence in 2012. Thankfully, with the unwavering support of his family, friends, and legal team, the case never went to court. But one thing became glaringly obvious during that awful time – there was almost nowhere for men or women falsely accused of such crimes to turn for emotional support.
The sheer terror of knowing your life could be destroyed, your reputation torn to shreds, and your private life dragged through the mud in a public courtroom can be utterly overwhelming. And if you’re not rolling in money, chances are your legal team won’t have the resources to guide you through the emotional side of it all. That’s where Accused.Me.UK comes in.
Originally set up to fill this glaring gap, the site has grown into a vital lifeline for men, women and their families. While there are a few forums and resources out there, there’s very little in the UK tailored to men and women who are innocent victims of false allegations of sexual offences. Our primary source of support is our private peer-to-peer Facebook group, which has grown to over 4,000 members. This group is filled with people who are either navigating or supporting someone navigating these allegations now or who have come out the other side. It’s a wealth of experience, understanding, and solidarity that’s invaluable during such a tough time.
In 2020, I took over the day-to-day running of Accused.Me.UK. Since then, we’ve focused heavily on strengthening the support available in the Facebook group and ensuring the website is packed with genuinely useful information. Last year, we proudly held our first annual conference. It may have been ten years in the making, but it’s now here to stay, and you can look forward to it every year.
A few months ago, the original founder decided to step away completely. From 2020 until recently, he’d been a sounding board for all major decisions, and I’m sure it was a tough choice for him. He poured so much of himself into building this group, but as it often does, life moved on for him. I’m deeply honoured that he’s entrusted me and our amazing team of moderators to take the reins fully. His faith in us has given us the freedom to push Accused.Me.UK to new heights faster than we ever anticipated. This trust is why we could launch our first in-person support meeting in November and why, with the help of fantastic hosts, we’re starting four more meetings early in the new year.
Looking ahead to 2025, we’re not just stopping there. We’re aiming to link you with more of the services you need in ways that won’t break the bank. Many of the services out there still don’t fully acknowledge that false accusations happen, and that leaves many feeling judged when reaching out to these services or unsupported because they don’t feel they can reach out. We’re working hard to change this by connecting you with services that truly understand your situation and provide the help you deserve without added stress or stigma.
Let’s not forget the website – it’s not designed to rope you into calling a salesperson or being recruited as a client. Instead, it’s packed with answers and information in abundance. We want to empower you with knowledge, not sell you services. That said, we do list a couple of solicitors on the site, but they’re the best in the business and won’t rip you off if you need to engage them. Everything you need to know is right there on the website.
We’re committed to staying here for our members and doing all we can to provide the help, support, and services you need as we grow and build. But we’re a grassroots effort with no formal income, and we rely on what you can give. We operate at a loss most months, and while I’m happy to cover those costs, I’d be grateful if I didn’t have to. If you’re able to donate, whether as a one-off or on a monthly basis, please consider doing so.
Accused.Me.UK is here to ensure that no one has to face this nightmare alone. Whether you’re seeking advice on navigating the legal minefield, emotional support, or just someone who understands what you’re going through, you’re in the right place. And if you’ve got thoughts about the direction of our work, ideas for improving the site, or queries about how to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can keep building a stronger, more supportive community.
Regards
CJ (Craig)
