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.


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.

Available White Papers & Pricing


The Case for Whole Life Sentences in Sexual Crimes Against Children
Single Purchase: £1,250 | Institutional Licence: £5,500
A legal and moral case for sentencing reform. Challenges political silence, judicial failure, and systemic bias against victims.
Essential for: Law faculties, justice campaigners, sentencing panels, safeguarding boards.


Inherited Institutional Abuse: Do Today’s Professionals Understand Their Legacy?
Single Purchase: £1,250 | Institutional Licence: £5,500
Explores how today’s professionals are shaped by a legacy of systemic failure.
Essential for: Universities, safeguarding leads, senior practitioners, and policy teams.


Short Sharp Shock: The Lasting Damage of Margaret Thatcher’s Youth Custody Regime
Single Purchase: £1,000 | Institutional Licence: £5,000
A forensic look at punitive youth justice and the long-term damage to children in custody.
Essential for: Youth offending teams, justice professionals, and criminal justice researchers.


Qualified to Fail? The Divide Between Academic Credentials and Real-World Expertise in Safeguarding
Single Purchase: £750 | Institutional Licence: £2,500
Critiques exclusionary safeguarding hiring practices and the disconnect between policy and lived-experience expertise.
Essential for: Employers, local authorities, universities, and workforce reform teams.


Grandfathers, Safeguarding, and the Price of Assumption
Single Purchase: £750 | Institutional Licence: £2,500
Investigates bias against male carers in safeguarding systems and child protection.
Essential for: Family court professionals, social workers, and legal advisors.


Understanding Institutional Child Abuse: A Professional’s Guide to Victim-Led Safeguarding
Single Purchase: £450 | Institutional Licence: £1,250
Outlines how to build trust and apply trauma-informed, victim-led approaches in practice.
Essential for: Safeguarding leads, charities, social work educators, and local government.


Healing the Borstal Boys: A Senior Trauma Recovery Specialist’s CBT & NLP Approach for Historic Abuse Victims
Single Purchase: £450 | Institutional Licence: £1,250
A therapeutic approach using CBT and NLP for male survivors of youth justice abuse.
Essential for: Therapists, rehabilitation staff, recovery programmes, men’s services.


Men Who Have Never Spoken: The Silent Trauma of Institutional Child Abuse and Its Impact on Families
Single Purchase: £450 | Institutional Licence: £1,250
Explores the generational toll of unspoken trauma on men and their families.
Essential for: Family therapists, addiction services, advocacy groups.


The Invisible Wounds: Addressing the Trauma of Male Victims of Institutional Abuse
Single Purchase: £295 | Institutional Licence: £995
Highlights the neglect of male victims in safeguarding and therapeutic models.
Essential for: Mental health teams, safeguarding professionals, social work courses.


Pre-Borstal Remand Homes: Hidden Within the System
Single Purchase: £225 | Institutional Licence: £850
Uncovers the abuse in pre-Borstal homes and how it shaped youth justice failures.
Essential for: Legal historians, safeguarding researchers, children’s rights advocates.



All 10 White Papers – Full Access

  • Individual Licence: £2,750
  • Institutional Licence: £6,250


Institutional Multi-User Licence

  • £7,500
    Ideal for universities, safeguarding boards, law firms, local authorities, and multi-department agencies requiring shared access across teams.

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.