Child sex abuse victims in Telford urged to contact Truth Project
Victims of child sex abuse are being asked to come forward by the national Truth Project, which will come to Telford in the coming months.
The Truth Project was set up for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to share their experiences in a supportive and confidential setting.
It is part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) which was set up in 2015 to investigate organisations and institutions that have failed to protect children from sexual abuse.
People are asked to get in touch online by filling out a form online, or by calling a helpline on 0800 917 1000.
Representatives of the Truth Project are expected to make several visits to Telford in April to meet with key stakeholders and raise awareness of the campaign.
They will then visit the week of May 21 and June 4 to deliver the ‘Telford Will Be Heard’ project and speak with victims of child sexual exploitation.
The project as a whole has also visited places including Nottingham, Newcastle, Bristol and Swansea.
It comes as councillors at a meeting of Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet on Thursday said that although they believed a council-led inquiry would be flawed, decisions would be made after the completion of the national Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s Truth Project.
Councillors said a decision would be made based upon independent advice on the work undertaken by partner organisations in stopping child sexual exploitation in the borough.
Opposition Conservatives said a council-led inquiry still needed to be commissioned as soon as possible.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Nicola Lowery, who represents the Ironbridge Gorge ward, said: “The council has a duty to investigate matters of public concern and it is important that the Truth Project is a key contributor to a locally-led and focussed Independent Inquiry into child sexual exploitation.”
Telford & Wrekin Council will hold an extraordinary meeting on child sexual exploitation on April 10.
Councillors will discuss a motion on an independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation.
