Trusted by Universities, Legal Experts & Safeguarding Professionals
Lewis Gell | Leading Expert in Safeguarding & Institutional Abuse Reform
A Respected Lived-Experience Practitioner Driving Systemic Change
About Lewis Gell: A Nationally Recognised Voice in Safeguarding
Lewis is a highly regarded lived-experience practitioner, expert in safeguarding, trauma recovery, and policy reform, and a leading advocate for victim-led justice and institutional accountability. As a qualified safeguarding consultant and victim of institutional child abuse, Lewis has dedicated his career to transforming personal experience into actionable change, ensuring that:
- Victims are heard
- Professionals are equipped with the right knowledge
- Safeguarding policies are built on truth, not bureaucracy
Having been sent to a remand home as a child, Lewis witnessed first-hand the devastating failures of the care and justice systems. His journey from victim to specialist safeguarding consultant has shaped his deep understanding of institutional abuse, recovery frameworks, and policy reform.
With over three decades of frontline expertise, Lewis has worked with:
- Government bodies (CPS, MOJ, Home Office, Local Authorities)
- Law enforcement & legal professionals
- Universities & research institutions
- Charities & NGOs supporting victims of abuse
His work is grounded in both academic knowledge and real-world impact, making him one of the UK’s most sought-after voices in safeguarding, justice reform, and victim advocacy.
Coming Soon – The Forgotten Boys: A Borstal Legacy
A ground-breaking book by Lewis Gell, launching later this year.
An unflinching, first-hand account of what happened to boys sent to Borstals and other correctional institutions. This book exposes:
- Systemic abuse and the failures of the youth justice system.
- The long-term impact on those who were supposed to be "reformed".
- How these institutions shaped Britain’s approach to juvenile crime.
- Hardback Edition
- Exclusive early access for professionals & institutions
Sign up to express interest & be notified on release
Register your interest – Email lewis.gell@theforgottenboys.co.uk with the subject line Book Pre-Order Notification.
White Papers – Expert-Led Research & Solutions
Professionally developed white papers providing critical, research-backed insights into institutional abuse, safeguarding failures, and trauma-informed care. These serve as essential resources for:
- Safeguarding Professionals – Social workers, legal professionals, and frontline teams seeking evidence-based solutions.
- Academics & Researchers – Universities conducting research into child protection, trauma, and justice reform.
- Policymakers & Government Bodies – Institutions shaping safeguarding policies and victim-led justice frameworks.
- NGOs & Charities – Organisations supporting victims of abuse, exploitation, and homelessness.
- Legal & Justice Professionals – Law firms, barristers, and advocacy groups working on victim-focused justice reform.
Available White Papers & Pricing
Each white paper is essential for professionals seeking to understand victim-led safeguarding, institutional failures, and the long-term impact of state intervention. These documents provide invaluable insights for universities, research institutions, legal professionals, safeguarding teams, mental health practitioners, and government bodies.
Inherited Institutional Abuse: Do Today’s Professionals Understand Their Legacy?
- Single Purchase: £1,250 | Institutional Licence: £5,500
- Examines the responsibility today’s professionals have inherited from past institutional abuse.
- Challenges safeguarding, legal, and social care professionals to acknowledge and address the consequences of historical systemic harm.
- Essential for universities, policymakers, and those working in victim-led safeguarding.
Short Sharp Shock: The Lasting Damage of Margaret Thatcher’s Youth Custody Regime
- Single Purchase: £1,000 | Institutional Licence: £5,000
- A deep historical, legal, and psychological analysis of the failures of punitive youth justice.
- Essential for justice professionals, researchers, and policymakers in youth offending and correctional services.
The Invisible Wounds: Addressing the Trauma of Male Victims of Institutional Abuse
- Single Purchase: £295 | Institutional Licence: £995
- Explores the neglected trauma of male victims and the barriers they face in accessing support.
- A vital resource for safeguarding teams, mental health professionals, and university research programs.
Healing the Borstal Boys: A Senior Trauma Recovery Specialist’s CBT & NLP Approach for Historic Abuse Victims
- Single Purchase: £450 | Institutional Licence: £1,250
- Provides trauma recovery strategies using CBT and NLP for former detainees.
- Ideal for rehabilitation specialists, therapists, and criminal justice reform professionals.
Pre-Borstal Remand Homes: Hidden Within the System
- Single Purchase: £225 | Institutional Licence: £850
- Reveals the hidden abuse within pre-Borstal remand homes and its lasting effects.
- Critical for legal advocates, researchers, and policymakers investigating historic child abuse.
Understanding Institutional Child Abuse: A Professional’s Guide to Victim-Led Safeguarding
- Single Purchase: £450 | Institutional Licence: £1,250
- A comprehensive guide for professionals on engaging with victims and improving safeguarding practice.
- Crucial for safeguarding professionals, legal teams, and government agencies.
Grandfathers, Safeguarding, and the Price of Assumption: How Bias in Child Protection Policies Harms Families
- Single Purchase: £750 | Institutional Licence: £2,500
- Examines institutional bias against male caregivers, particularly grandfathers, in safeguarding policies.
- A must-read for child protection professionals, legal experts, and those working in social services.
- Qualified to Fail? The Divide Between Academic Credentials and Real-World Expertise in Safeguarding
- Single Purchase: £750 | Institutional Licence: £2,500
- Challenges the dominance of academic qualifications in safeguarding roles, exposing the exclusion of highly skilled professionals without degrees
- Examines the mistrust victims have toward statutory services and the failure of traditional safeguarding models
- Argues for the recognition of frontline, real-world expertise as essential qualification
- Highlights systemic hypocrisy where professionals shape safeguarding law and policy yet are barred from employment due to lack of a degree
- A vital document for employers, training providers, university departments, and anyone involved in workforce development, policy, and reform
Bundle Offers
- All 9 White Papers for: £2,250 (Individual) £5,000 (Institutional Licence)
- Institutional Multi-User Licence: £6,750 (ideal for universities, safeguarding boards, legal firms, and social care agencies)
How to Purchase White Papers
- Step 1: Request an invoice – Email lewis.gell@theforgottenboys.co.uk with the title(s) of the white paper(s) you wish to purchase.
- Step 2: Receive an invoice – You will receive payment instructions for our company bank account.
- Step 3: Make payment – Once confirmed, your white paper(s) will be emailed to you.
- Institutional & bulk licensing available – Contact: lewis.gell@theforgottenboys.co.uk
- Please use your name or invoice number as the payment reference.
Bespoke Consultancy & Training Services
Beyond white papers, Lewis Gell provides expert consultancy, training sessions, and policy reviews for organisations needing tailored insights into institutional abuse, safeguarding failures, and trauma-informed care.
- Safeguarding Policy Reviews – Helping organisations improve victim-centred safeguarding frameworks.
- Professional Training & CPD Programmes – Educating frontline workers on trauma-informed safeguarding.
- Public Speaking & Expert Panels – Providing first-hand insights into institutional safeguarding failures.
- Strategic Consultation for Charities & Government Bodies – Developing real-world, victim-led safeguarding reforms.
Contact Lewis Gell at:
lewis.gell@theforgottenboys.co.uk
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-gell-267957159
Driving change through expertise, lived experience, and policy reform.
