North East Child Sex Victim Calls For Funding

9 February 2016, 05:00 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A Washington woman, who was sexually exploited as a child, warns more young people will be abused if services aren't funded.

Rachel Potter, 46, was raped and sexually assaulted by her uncle when she was ten years old.

She kept her ordeal to herself for more than thirty years before eventually speaking out to her family.

The mum-of-one is now demanding more funding for specialist services in our region, after Capital found a Government grant for a Barnardo's project in Middlesbrough runs out next month.

NightWatch, which is funded by the Department for Education, offers training to the public to help them spot if a young person is being abused. 

Despite its success, the project will no longer continue after March.

Rachel told Capital services like this are vital in keeping young people safe: 

A Department for Education spokesperson told Heart:

"The voluntary and community sector plays a key role in providing services for children and families and over this Parliament we will continue to commit significant funding to the sector through a range of grants and contracts."

"This grant was given to Barnardo's for 12 months and was always due to come to an end in March. Barnardo's is, of course, welcome to bid for future grants."