Supporting Children and Families Affected by Sexual Abuse
Help Is Available: How Children North East Supports Children and Families Affected by Abuse and Why Funding Matters
Every child deserves to grow up feeling safe, supported, and valued. Sadly, we know that an estimated 1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused*, which can have lasting effects on their emotional and mental wellbeing. In recent weeks, we have also seen a rise in high profile sexual abuse cases being discussed in the press and on social media, something which can evoke trauma or uncomfortable conversations for victims, whether they have disclosed their abuse or not.
At Children North East, we are committed to providing specialist support for children and young people affected by sexual abuse, helping them to process their trauma and manage its impact on their lives.
Abuse Can Affect Anyone
Sexual abuse affects children from all backgrounds, and perpetrators can come from all walks of life. It is not limited to any particular community, class, culture or social group. The experience of abuse can highly differ from case to case – each victim’s experience is unique.
Recognising this is crucial in ensuring that every child gets the support they need without fear of stigma or repercussion. At Children North East, we stand firmly in the belief that every child who has experienced harm deserves to be heard without judgement and provided with care, understanding, and access to the right services.
How We Support Children and Families
Our dedicated, expert team provides specialist support for children, young people who have been affected by abuse, and their families; offering a safe space where they can process their experiences and begin to heal.
Therapeutic Support
Our trained professionals provide trauma-informed therapy to victims aged 0 to 18 (up to 25 with SEND). One-to-one counselling and creative therapies help children and young people to work through their experiences in a way that feels safe and manageable. We have a dedicated SAFE (Sexual Abuse Family Engagement) programme, which offers people in the Northumbria area up to twenty sessions of therapeutic support to help them process their trauma and support them in recovery. We hope to extend this much needed service to more areas in the future.
Family and Caregiver Support
We understand that abuse affects entire families, leaving individuals with trauma, impacting relationships and diminishing their established support networks. Our SAFE programme works with family, whether they are parents, carers, siblings, grandparents or other important people in the young person’s life, providing help on how to support and safeguard them during recovery and beyond.
Education and Early Intervention
Education and awareness can play an important role in helping vulnerable children and young people, as well as the those around them, to understand safe behaviours. We work within families, communities and schools to provide information on the law and red flags relating to sexting and social media, recognising coercive behaviour and healthy relationships; supporting individuals with the tools to recognise risks and where know re to seek help if they ever feel at risk.
Without support, victims are left to navigate the aftermath of abuse alone
“Our allocated worker was very skilled and put us at ease immediately. She tailored the course to meet our family’s specific situation and the support and guidance she offered felt both bespoke and responsive. Sensitive and difficult discussions were handled with kindness, gentleness and empathy; this has been hugely beneficial.” One parent’s experience of accessing professional family support with Children North East
Providing these vital services relies on continued funding, Government, public sector organisations and private funders. Therapy, early intervention and advocacy require resources, trained specialists, and safe spaces where children can feel heard and protected. Without these services individuals are not only left to navigate the impact of abuse alone, having potential devastating consequences on their future, but the risk of being a victim again increases.
We are pleased to share that Northumbria Police Crime Commission are working with Children North East to provide support, extending funding of the SAFE programme for a further 12 months. Since March last year, the programme has supported 123 young people in the aftermath of abuse.
Together, we can ensure that no child faces the effects of abuse alone.
If you are in immediate danger as a result of abuse, call 999. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, you can get immediate support from the NHS Mental Health Helpline on 0800 652 2861. Or, if you would like to speak to someone confidentially, call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: [email protected] for a reply within 24 hours.
* https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/statistics-briefings/child-sexual-abuse
