|
AS the children's charity NSPCC launches a campaign to combat child sex
abuse, Nicola Rider speaks to the manager of a much-needed support centre in Leatherhead.
TUCKED away in an office block in the middle of a busy town centre is
a haven for hundreds of children who visit it every year.
But rather than a youth cafe, a computer room or a cinema, this building
is home to a therapeutic centre for sexually abused children.
The NSPCC centre in Leatherhead is one of just 39 centres across the UK.
It prepares for trial around 200 frightened and vulnerable children every
year.
It also offers support to more than 80 children who are not facing the
prospect of court.
Frances Le Roy is manager of the centre in Bridge Street. She said: "We
specialise in helping children to make sense of their experiences.
"Children often think they are the only one and we try and help them to
understand they are not alone and it is not their fault."
The councillors at the centre talk to the children one-on-one and in group
sessions.
They treat children aged between four and 17 from across Surrey for a
maximum of 12 weeks.
They also run group sessions for the parents of abused children to help
them under-stand the situation.
Ms Le Roy said: "The parents have similar feelings to the children. They
feel they should have seen it happening."
But a new campaign launched by children's charity NSPCC this week aims
to encourage the Government to provide more of these centres.
The Don't Hide It campaign looks at the importance of the centres and
aims to persuade the Government to build more so that hundreds of other children can be offered support and understanding.
Ms Le Roy said: "We build a really safe environment where children can
feel safe and confident."
Programmes like the one running in Leatherhead were started in 1994. As
part of the scheme young people are also visited at home and taken to visit the court before the trial begins.
During proceedings their worker attends court with them, provides a de-brief
session and makes an assessment of any future therapeutic need.
The Leatherhead project houses a remote link to Guildford Crown Court
which can also be linked up with any court around the country.
This allows young witnesses to give their evidence in a child-friendly
environment away from the stresses of the court building.
NSPCC director Mary Marsh said: "A child calls ChildLine on average once
every hour to talk about rape and other types of sexual abuse.
"But as terrible as these calls are the children who phone are those who
have found the strength to speak out. Many others feel unable to do this.
"NSPCC research shows one in six children
will be sexually abused before they reach their 16th birthday but nearly three-quarters tell no one about it at the time."
For help or more information contact the centre on 01372 375372.
| 
