Michele Elliott
Encyclopedia
Michele Elliott OBE is an author, psychologist, teacher and the founder and director of child protection charity Kidscape
. She has chaired World Health Organisation and Home Office working groups and is a Winston Churchill fellow.
. She has a Masters's degree in Psychology She began working with families and children in 1968, moving to the United Kingdom
in 1971. She has dual citizenship of the UK and USA.
, where her husband was a social studies teacher.
Elliott has been a high profile figure and Kidscape was named Charity of the Year in 2000. Writing in The Guardian
, David Brindle suggested the award was "an undoubted reflection of the vibrancy of Michele Elliott".
In 1992 Elliott published her book Female Sexual Abuse of Children The Last Taboo", the first book to address the issue of sexual abuse by women. The book was well received by professionals and survivors' organisations. Mike Lew described it as "an important and challenging work", helping "to forge a new understanding of the issues". Doody's annual stated it was "an extremely valuable book for all professionals, and it greatly increases the current state of knowledge, or lack of that knowledge, that can have a profound influence on the survivor's development and recovery".
Elliott's work in exposing the issue of female paedophilia has also resulted in hostility from feminists.
While compiling Female Sexual Abuse of Children Elliott organised a conference in London
concerning sexual abuse by females. After publishing the book Elliott was subject to a "deluge" of hate mail
from feminists.
in 2003.
Kidscape
The London-based charity Kidscape was established in 1985 by child psychologist Michele Elliott. Its focus is on children’s safety, with an emphasis on the prevention of harm by equipping children with techniques and mindsets that help them stay safe....
. She has chaired World Health Organisation and Home Office working groups and is a Winston Churchill fellow.
Early life
Elliott was born in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She has a Masters's degree in Psychology She began working with families and children in 1968, moving to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1971. She has dual citizenship of the UK and USA.
Work
Elliott worked as a guidance councillor at The American School in LondonThe American School in London
The American School in London is an international, independent K-12 school in St John's Wood, London, England for students aged between 4 and 18 years. Established in 1951 by Princeton graduate Stephen Eckard, it is the oldest American school in the city and the only non-profit American school in...
, where her husband was a social studies teacher.
Kidscape
Elliott founded Kidscape in 1984 in order to help children stay safe.Elliott has been a high profile figure and Kidscape was named Charity of the Year in 2000. Writing in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, David Brindle suggested the award was "an undoubted reflection of the vibrancy of Michele Elliott".
Research into female paedophilia
Elliott has undertaken pioneering work in investigating and raising awareness of the problem and extent of female paedophilia.In 1992 Elliott published her book Female Sexual Abuse of Children The Last Taboo", the first book to address the issue of sexual abuse by women. The book was well received by professionals and survivors' organisations. Mike Lew described it as "an important and challenging work", helping "to forge a new understanding of the issues". Doody's annual stated it was "an extremely valuable book for all professionals, and it greatly increases the current state of knowledge, or lack of that knowledge, that can have a profound influence on the survivor's development and recovery".
Elliott's work in exposing the issue of female paedophilia has also resulted in hostility from feminists.
While compiling Female Sexual Abuse of Children Elliott organised a conference in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
concerning sexual abuse by females. After publishing the book Elliott was subject to a "deluge" of hate mail
Hate mail
Hate mail is a form of harassment, usually consisting of invective and potentially intimidating or threatening comments towards the recipient...
from feminists.
Awards
In 2008 Elliot was honoured with an OBE by the Queen for services to children. The following year she was named Children and Young People’s Champion. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
in 2003.
Publications
- Keeping Safe: A Practical Guide to Talking with Children by Michele Elliott and Alice Englander, 1986, NCVO Publications, ISBN 978-0719911873
- The Willow Street Kids: It's Your Right to be Safe by Michele Elliott, 1986, Andre Deutsch Ltd ISBN 978-0233979540
- The Willow Street Kids: Be Smart Stay Safe by Michele Elliott, 1987, Piccolo Books ISBN 978-0330297011
- Feeling Happy, Feeling Safe by Michele Elliott, 1991, Hodder Children's Books, ISBN 978-0340553862
- Female Sexual Abuse Of Children: The Ultimate Taboo by Michele Elliott, 1994, Guilford Press ISBN 978-0471972211
- Keeping Safe by Phil Collins and Michele Elliott, 1994, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd ISBN 978-0340624821
- Teenscape: Personal Safety Programme for Teenagers by Michele Elliott, 1995, Health Education Authority ISBN 978-0752102795
- 501 Ways to be a Good Parent by Michele Elliott, 1996, Hodder Mobius ISBN 978-0340649039
- 101 Ways to Deal with Bullying: A Guide for Parents by Michele Elliott, 1997, Hodder Mobius, ISBN 978-0340695197
- The Willow Street Kids: Be Smart Stay Safe by Michele Elliott, 1997, Macmillan Children's Books, ISBN 978-0330351843
- The Willow Street Kids: Beat the Bullies by Michele Elliott, 1997, Macmillan Children's Books, ISBN 978-0330351850
- 601 Ways to Be a Good Parent: A Practical Handbook for Raising Children Ages Four to Twelve, by Michele Elliott, 1999, Citadel, ISBN 978-0806520728
- Bully-free: Activities to Promote Confidence and Friendship by Michele Elliott, Gaby Shenton and Roz Eirew, 1999, Kidscape ISBN 978-1872572116
- How to Stop Bullying by Michele Elliott and Jane Kirkpatrick, 2001, Kidscape ISBN 978-1872572017
- Bullying: A Practical Guide to Coping for Schools by Michele Elliott, 2002, Pearson Education, ISBN 978-0273659235
- Dealing with Bullying: Training Guide for Teachers of Children and Young People with Special Needs by Michele Elliott, Claude Knights, Jean Gawlinski and Catherine Calvert, 2008, Kidscape ISBN 978-1872572215
- The Essential Guide to Tackling Bullying: Practical Skills for Teachers by Michele Elliott, 2011, Longman, ISBN 978-1408264836