Rose Latham is the remaining founder member of Empower The Invisible Project. She spent most of her childhood living in fear in an abusive home. Violence and sexual abuse were the norm for her and in her own words "she went off the rails in her teens". Rose was excluded from mainstream school and as a consequence left school with no formal qualifications. 

Rose first reported her abuser in the late 80s and was disbelieved by the police and her abuse was allowed to continue unchecked. This left her very distrustful of authority figures and her caregivers as she was branded a liar and a trouble maker.

Throughout her adult life, she attempted to engage in therapy but her experiences were so ingrained she found it hard to trust professionals so lived with her trauma and tried her best to put her past behind her. 

Rose re-entered education in her 30s and completed an Access to Learning course at her local college. Her tutors recognised her academic abilities and nominated her to the Helena Kennedy Foundation for an award and a bursary to encourage her to apply to university. She successfully graduated in 2010 with a BA(Hons) Law with Psychology. Following this, she gained employment in the substance misuse recovery field and gained a further qualification as a Recovery Coach. 

In 2014 Rose left her job role to pursue her ambition of training to secure a teaching qualification and gained her PGCE and was graded as outstanding in all areas in 2016. Throughout her time completing her PGCE she volunteered as a tutor for the recovery community and was also a volunteer counsellor at ChildLine completing 472 volunteer counselling hours to some of the most vulnerable young people in society.

In 2016 alongside her sister she decided to once again report her abuser and after a lengthy investigation taking over a year, she was informed that no charges would be brought unless further evidence came to light. This set Rose on her road to recovery from the years of abuse and trauma and she embarked on a long engagement with a traumatic stress service and now proudly declares that she now manages the symptoms of the Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder she was diagnosed with.

She is a strong campaigner for adults who are still dealing with their trauma due to a severe lack of adequate provision and has spoken at local and national levels about her own lived experiences. Previously she has participated in research for the NHS and also Kings College in London. 

 

She delivers lectures at other educational establishments to undergraduates who aspire to become police officers or work within the judicial system and is a regular guest trainer for Lancashire Constabulary. She has also fostered a close working partnership within the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network. Empower the Invisible Project is also commissioned to support individuals who access the service of NHS Talking Therapies throughout the West Lancashire and Fylde coast areas.

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She is a psychotherapist and is a member of the National Council of Integrative Psychotherapists and was made a Fellow in May 2023.


"Rosemarie Latham is an expert by lived experience in the relationship between Substance Use Disorders and Childhood Trauma. We are all recognising that traumas (cf Adverse Childhood Experiences etc) are the driving force behind some of the most entrenched forms of Substance Use Disorders. But, what do we do? How do we deal with this in our treatment and recovery services? Rosemarie is a woman with answers to these questions. If you need a consultant in this area I highly recommend you contact Rosemarie Latham."   Mark Gilman Managing Director at Discovering Health

"Rosemarie is quite possibly the most inspirational, authentic and compassionate public speaker I have ever heard. I can testify to having heard literally thousands of peoples stories, all real and all authentic but Rosemaries delivery, insight, determination and articulation of strength over severe adversity is one I will never forget. Rosemarie is a very special individual, it is a joy to have been touched a little by her life."   Annemarie Ward CEO Faces and Voices of Recovery