We don’t always know when trauma begins — sometimes it’s one moment, one event that changes everything. Other times, it’s drip-fed over years. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just a slow erasing of safety.

At the Mark Hewitson Foundation, we work with people who’ve lived through all kinds of trauma — grief, assault, abandonment, illness, violence, poverty, instability. What they all have in common is this: they weren’t given what they needed when they needed it most.

And the effects of that don’t just disappear.

Trauma Isn’t What Happened. It’s What’s Still Happening.

Trauma doesn’t live in the past. It lives in the nervous system. It shows up in ways that confuse even the person going through it:
– Why can’t I focus?
– Why do I feel numb?
– Why does a smell or tone of voice make my heart race?
– Why do I shut down in situations that seem “normal” to other people?

You’re not broken. You’re protecting yourself — often from things your body still remembers even if your mind doesn’t want to.

The World Isn’t Always Built for Trauma Survivors

We live in a society that often expects people to “move on”, “get over it”, “be strong”. But trauma recovery isn’t linear. It isn’t neat. And it isn’t a timeline you can stick to.

We’ve seen people who can hold it together in a crisis but collapse in the aftermath. People who function until they can’t. People who do everything right and still feel like they’re falling apart.

At the Foundation, we don’t ask you to explain why you’re struggling. We believe you. You don’t have to prove how bad it was, or still is. If you need support, that’s enough.

Safety Comes First

Healing begins with safety — not pressure, not exposure, not being told to talk before you’re ready.

That’s why we take a trauma-informed approach:
– We believe survivors without demanding details.
– We respect your pace — whether you’re reaching out for the first time or the fifth.
– We recognise how power, shame, and survival mode can shape every interaction.

And most importantly, we see you as a whole person, not just a problem to fix.

The Little Things Are Big

Sometimes, what helps is:
– A warm meal when you’re too dissociated to cook.
– A taxi to get to your therapy appointment without a panic attack on the bus.
– Someone saying “You’re not a burden” — and meaning it.

The grants we give might be small, but they are rooted in dignity. In listening. In kindness. In knowing that when trauma steals your voice, practical help can speak volumes.

If This Is You

If you’re reading this and thinking “That’s me”, we want you to know:
– You’re not weak.
– You’re not overreacting.
– You’re not imagining it.
– You are *not alone*.

Whether you’re just surviving, starting to name your pain, or somewhere in the middle — we see you. We’re here. And we’ll hold that space for as long as you need x

Apply for a grant or connect with us:
https://markhewitsonfoundation.org
Or email: dee@markhewitsonfoundation.org