Sexual violence and abuse is prevalent in society, and with 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 6 men experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime, professionals from every walk of life will come into contact with someone who has experienced or is still experiencing some form of abuse. That’s why we’re proud to announce a new partnership with Magnum Tattoo Supplies. We believe our partnership will raise awareness with tattoo artists, studios and suppliers and help us reach more survivors.
“We are really delighted to be partnering with Magnum Tattoo Supplies around the issue of creating safe and trauma-informed spaces for everyone. Survivors might see getting a tattoo as a way of expressing difficult emotions or of reclaiming their own choices – or they may just like the design – but the close personal nature of tattooing means they may be more inclined to talk about traumatic experiences and it can be difficult to know how to respond when this happens. We want to make sure that the resources and information are there to support tattoo artists to make their studios safe and supportive spaces for everyone.”, says Fay Maxted OBE, Chief Executive of The Survivors Trust.
Tattoos as a form of expression
Tattoo studios can be places of transformation. For a survivor, getting a tattoo can be a symbolic reclaiming of their body, a way to mark survival, or a step in a very personal healing journey. They are also where a survivor may become triggered due to the often intimate nature of having a tattoo or may feel safe to disclose their experiences. But while tattoo artists are often trusted with deeply personal stories, they’re not always equipped to respond safely or confidently.
One London-based studio owner shared her experience:
“Yes, clients do open up to us — sometimes about really traumatic things. But while we’re empathetic, we’re not trained therapists. I run my studio as a safe space, so we gently move the conversation on to protect everyone in the room. Still, I’d love to have more guidance on how to respond and signpost people to support.”
“Everyone at Magnum is delighted to officially announce this partnership with The Survivors Trust. We strive to help artists and their clients in whatever way we can, and we believe that partnering with TST will allow us to help support those in or connected to the tattoo industry who have experienced sexual violence and abuse, which unfortunately is still too prevalent to this day. We look forward to bringing about positive, much-needed change in the tattoo industry through our partnership with TST, while also helping the charity with its fundraising goals so that they can continue to offer the brilliant service that they do. Thank you to all the team at TST for their trust in partnering with us and we can’t wait to get started working together and changing tattooing for the better.” Says Glenn Doyle, Marketing Manager, Magnum Tattoo Supplies
About Magnum Tattoo Supplies
The company was founded in 2010 and embarked on a massive rebrand at the end of last year that positioned us differently in the industry, with a greater focus on community and inclusivity. The whole look and feel of Magnum has been revamped to better reflect the clear shifts in the industry (more inclusive, less male-dominated space), and to better represent our predominantly-female team and who we are. We’ve already built an incredible, like-minded community through the brand, but we hope to take this much further and expand it into an even more welcoming and inclusive community for all tattoo artists.
What’s next for us
Together, we will develop resources tailored for tattoo artists, help raise awareness and access to further support and signposting.
If the above resonated with you, and you are a tattoo artist, receptionist or studio owner, browse our website for further information about responding to disclosures, resources for survivors, local specialist services, training and much more. Our free confidential helpline is available for anyone affected by sexual violence and would like to talk to someone about their own experience or someone they know.
