Help is out there for childhood abuse survivors

The boost, from the Big Lottery Improving Lives Fund, The Robertson Trust, Foundation Scotland and the Scottish Government, has enabled Survivors Unite to roll out its Safe Oaks project, offering counselling, one-to-one peer support and group support to those who need it.

The charity has appointed a new project lead, Alan Renton from Hawick, who has spent the past 20 years working abroad in the textile trade.

He said: “This is a great new challenge for me ... instead of helping people make money, I’ll be helping people make a difference in the community.

"It’s a really good bunch of people, and an experienced trustees board.

"And the people on the coalface, so to speak, the counsellors, are really nice people.

"I can see the charity getting bigger, and I hope we’ll eventually be able to help more and more people, because there are many out there who could benefit greatly.

"At the moment, we are helping 20 people, with a further 20 on the waiting list.

"But we believe there are more than 4,000 survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the Borders, and we really want to increase our ability to help them.”

Mr Renton added: “We are very grateful to the Big Lottery Improving Lives Fund, The Robertson Trust, Foundation Scotland and the Scottish Government for their financial support.

"Sincere thanks also to Children1st where this work began nine years ago.

“Children1st has provided partnership and support, enabling Survivors Unite to establish as an independent charity, as well as giving us space in its premises in Selkirk, providing a safe, welcoming and understanding environment where much of our work takes place.

“Childhood sexual abuse remains a taboo and shocking subject.

"But it is happening at this very moment, in all walks of life, and most often by trusted adults in a child’s world.”

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