Shahid supports calls for therapy for abused children

Dewsbury & Mirfield MP Shahid Malik joined the NSPCC’s Director and Chief Executive, Mary Marsh, at the launch of its ‘Don’t Hide it’ campaign last week calling on the Government to ensure that local therapeutic services are available for all children who have suffered sexual abuse.

Shahid, who was appointed an NSPCC parliamentary advisor in March, joined other MPs in an effort to highlight the need for such services and to call on the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt to take action.

Shahid said: “We can never take away what has happened to these children. We can't erase their memories, but we can help them to develop the strength to deal with what they've been through and come to terms with their trauma, and that’s where the role of therapeutic services becomes so important.”

“I’ll be asking Patricia Hewitt’s department to take decisive action and work towards making the progress needed to ensure that all children who are victims of abuse of this nature receive these vital services.”

It has been estimated that 90 per cent of children known to have suffered sexual abuse currently do not receive support. The benefits of such services in helping children recover are well documented.  

Lobbying on behalf of the NSPCC, 60,000 Partners in Campaigning will be sending postcards to the Secretary of State for Health, and writing to their MP to call for more such services. To join the campaign online, see: www.NSPCC.org.uk/campaigning.

NSPCC Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Diana Sutton, said:
“Children who are being sexually abused suffer enormous harm.  They must get the therapy they need to help overcome the trauma they’ve endured and to move on with their lives. We want the government to ensure that children everywhere have full access to therapeutic services.

“To help achieve this, we call for a detailed analysis of current provision and a fully funded delivery plan, at both national and local level.”