Charity forced to suspend support for children impacted by abuse due to funding

Nexus, which provides specialist support for people impacted by sexual abuse and abusive relationships, says it can no longer offer support to four to seven-year-olds and has been forced to pause support for over 60 young people aged between eight and 16.

It said from December 1 2022 to December 2023 it supported eight children and young people aged four to seven and 98 aged eight to 16.

Their current waiting time is more than eight months.

Nexus chief executive Joanne Barnes said they are urging the Department of Health to prioritise the allocation of specific funding for these specialist services for children and their families.

"Unlike resource for adults impacted by sexual abuse, specific, ring-fenced, central government funding to provide specialist trauma-informed support for children impacted by sexual abuse has never been available in Northern Ireland," she said.

"So, this is not a lack of government issue. Simply put, children who have experienced the most heinous abuse have never had access to centralised government-funded support in NI.

"Up until now, we have been able to respond to this need, in a limited capacity, through successful applications to grant making trusts and we are aware of ad-hoc support through individual health and social care trusts.

"However, the fact remains that our children are not given the same access to services and support as adults. Many adults come to us for abuse they experienced in childhood, with over 50% of our adult clients experiencing childhood sexual abuse and living with its effects for decades."

She said without the right support sexual abuse can have a devastating impact on the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of children and young people".

"The effects often ripple throughout their lives, leading to long-term consequences such as complex trauma, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and self-harm," she said.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The department recognises the importance of the provision of therapeutic services for children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse.

"Northern Ireland's stopping domestic and sexual violence and abuse strategy applies to all victims of domestic and sexual abuse, regardless of a person's age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

"Jointly with the PSNI, the Department of Health also funds the Rowan Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which delivers 24/7 support and services to children, young people, women and men who have been sexually abused, assaulted or raped, whether this has happened in the past or more recently.

"Following extensive consultation, work is underway to develop a new draft domestic and sexual abuse strategy and action plan. It is anticipated that the final drafts will be ready for consideration by incoming ministers and a Northern Ireland executive.

"In addition, HSC trusts provide and fund services for child victims of sexual abuse, including the Child Care Centre in the Belfast HSC Trust area.

"A regional service is provided under contract for therapeutic support in relation to children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation (CSE). Work is ongoing to re-tender this contract.

"There has been significant progress in addressing CSE since the Marshall report in 2014, which looked at the nature of CSE in Northern Ireland. The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) is continuing to focus on CSE as a priority.

"A cross-departmental working group has also been established to identify potential options for improving the support and services available to child victims of sexual abuse."