Duncan Craig OBE is one of Manchester’s most fearless changemakers—a fighter, a healer, and a voice for those who have been silenced. From reshaping national policy to revolutionising survivor support in the North, his impact on Greater Manchester and beyond is undeniable.
A career that began in television, theatre, and the arts, working at Granada TV, the Palace Theatre, and the Opera House, took a dramatic turn when frontline volunteering in sex worker projects, drug services, and needle exchanges exposed the urgent need for dedicated services for male survivors of sexual violence. Retraining as a psychotherapist, Duncan Craig OBE earned a master’s degree with distinction, equipping himself with the tools to build the change he knew was missing.
In 2009, he founded We Are Survivors, establishing Manchester as the national leader in trauma-informed support for male survivors. As CEO, he built the first specialist organisation of its kind in the North, ensuring that male, trans, and non-binary survivors have access to life-changing therapeutic services, advocacy, and justice support. His own lived experience as a survivor has shaped every aspect of the organisation, creating a safe space where shame does not belong to victims, but to the perpetrators.
The legal and healthcare landscape of Greater Manchester, and the UK as a whole, bears his imprint. Work with the Government, NHS, Crown Prosecution Service, and Greater Manchester Police has embedded survivor voices into decision-making at the highest levels. Contributions to the UK Victim Strategy, the Strategic Direction for Sexual Assault and Abuse Services, and the first-ever Cross-Government Position Statement on Male Victims of Gender-Based Violence have redefined national responses to survivor care. As an advisor to Gold Command for Greater Manchester Police, Duncan Craig OBE played a pivotal role in shaping the response to the Reynhard Sinaga case, one of the most high-profile sexual violence prosecutions in UK history.
The impact of his work has reached far beyond the UK, but Manchester remains the heart of his mission. Governments, academics, and frontline organisations in Iceland, New Zealand, the USA, and Uganda have sought his expertise in developing survivor support frameworks. From supporting First Nations survivors to advising on cases of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and sexual violence in war and conflict, his knowledge has shaped global policy discussions—but his work continues to ensure Manchester is not just following the conversation, but leading it.
Media and storytelling are among his most powerful tools for change. Script consultancy and advisory roles on Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, EastEnders, and Casualty have helped create authentic, responsible portrayals of male survivors on screen. Executive production credits in film, contributions to BBC documentaries, Huffington Post, theatre productions, and high-profile podcasts have amplified survivor voices, challenging stigma and forcing the issue into public consciousness.
Recognition has followed impact. In 2020, an OBE from Her Majesty The Queen acknowledged his service to male victims of rape and child abuse. In 2022, the Medal of Honour from Dame Nancy Rothwell celebrated his contribution to survivor advocacy. In 2023, appointment as Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester’s School of Criminology further cemented his role in shaping research, training, and professional development for the next generation of legal and support professionals.
Manchester is a city built on resilience, justice, and progress—Duncan Craig OBE embodies that spirit. The services he has created, the policies he has influenced, the laws he has changed, and the survivors he has supported form a legacy that will outlive him. Thousands of lives have been transformed because of his work—and thousands more will be.
