Sexual abuse charity set to close without funding

A charity that provides specialist counselling and support for survivors of rape and sexual abuse has said it desperately needs more funding to survive.

Trust House Lancashire said it had helped more than 1,000 people last year, ranging in age from four to 77.

Jayne Hurst, service manager and adult therapist, said the charity needed to raise £300,000 by the end of September.

"Unfortunately if we don't get the money, we're not going to be here and difficult decisions will need to be made," she said.

"As a team, all our hearts are in it and we're determined that's not going to be the case.

"We're hoping to do some fundraising events soon, so we're trying our very best."

Trust House Lancashire has an office in Preston town centre, as well as rooms available in Burnley, Fleetwood, Blackpool, Ormskirk and Skelmersdale.

"When a family's been affected, it's not just the person who needs the support, it's the whole family," explained Ms Hurst. "So we have family support workers that go into their homes and that's invaluable.

"A lot of people who have been through abusive relationships, or [are] survivors of sexual abuse or violence... they have lost their power, they have lost their identity, they don't know who they are any more.

"We give that person their power, we walk alongside them and we support them in ways that we can and without us being here what are these people going to do?"

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