His latest book, Not Normal , was released earlier this month and Paul says it is even more detailed than the first. Read More Related Articles Paul has spoken of how the children would not go to school as they would be bullied following the abuse at the children's home, and instead would go and ride horses. Michael Socha plays Paul Connolly in the lead role. Zoë Tapper plays Anthea. Mitchell Norman, Joshua Coombes, Brett Fancy, Mark Flynn Rutter and Daniel Adegboyega also star in other roles. [4] While Jamie Wannell played Liam Carroll in Crowhurst's short film, he took on the role of a perpetrator in his feature film. [5] Mary, one of the nurses at the home, took an interest in his care and would even take him on holidays. St Leonard's Cottage Homes was built around 1890, and began with trying to house 'pauper' children away from the workhouses. Most cottages were looked after by a house-mother and a house-father.

He began working as a doorman for busy bars and admits he would get involved in altercations on the door. She will be joined by the author and inspiration behind the film, Paul Connolly, the chief executive and clinical director of Kids Inspire, Sue Bell OBE, Olivier award-winning actress and patron of the charity, Ruthie Henshall, and the film’s executive producer, Richard Hart. The investigation, titled Operation Mapperton, uncovered child abuse at the children's home and Paul gave evidence discussing his time growing up at St Leonard's. The home was made up of several dormitories where the children would sleep, with up to 12 beds in each building. Read More Related Articles My most recent book, Not Normal, is the inspiration for Big Boys Don’t Cry and gave me an opportunity to tell even more of our story – especially on behalf of those who are no longer with us or who felt unable to speak up in the way I have.Directed by Steve Crowhurst , who also wrote the script. He made the film under the title Six from Eight . Crowhurst had already taken on Connolly's story in the short film of the same name, which he presented in 2019, in October 2019 in front of the Royal Society of Arts. He then attended lessons to learn how to read and write in his 20s, because he felt it would aid his career as a boxer. Many others suffered various forms of abuse by the home’s staff and the housemaster, Bill Starling, was eventually jailed in 2001 for 14 years for the horrific crimes he committed. I got into boxing and the trainers were the first role models who didn't want to rape us," said Paul. We provide specialist trauma-informed therapy and support to children and young people just like Paul. Our sincere thanks go to him for supporting Kids Inspire’s services, raising awareness of the adversity children and young people can face and for inspiring hope for a positive future."

He works with various charities and is a core participant in the IICSA historical child abuse enquiry providing a voice for many no longer able to speak up. Above all else, Paul is most proud of being a loving father to his two sons. He was taken to St Leonard's Children's Home in Hornchurch where he suffered mental and physical abuse, and remembers men 'climbing the fire escape' to rape children. Daniel O'Malley, a detective inspector who heads the continuing investigation, suggested that there could have been as many as 70 victims during those years. Paul is so pleased to be working with Kids Inspire again and on this special screening of the film based on his life.

Research

T1 - The effectiveness of Nurture Groups in improving outcomes for young children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties in primary schools On my first night I wet the bed and a nurse scrubbed me in bleach and said 'That's what we do to whoever wets the bed here'," he said. It emerged that one house-father, Bill Starling, 94, had indecently assaulted, raped or buggered 11 victims, aged between five to 14 years old over twenty years, The Guardian reports.