Child sex abuse services at risk, says Wiltshire charity boss
FearFree's CEO says support providers need sustainable funding
Last updated 30th May 2025
A Wiltshire charity supporting survivors of child sexual abuse says it fears services will close without sustainable funding.
FearFree has revealed its worries to Greatest Hits Radio after a centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA Centre) survey found providers are on the brink.
The CSA said 23 support services closed in the 18 months since their last national survey in 2023, leaving 363 such services across the whole of England and Wales.
Three-quarters of the 124 services that responded said they are facing uncertainty about future funding.
Early intervention crucial
FearFree CEO Debbie Beadle called services for survivors of child sexual abuse "vitally important", saying that supporting victims at an early age can prevent some of the lasting impacts.
"When you're a child and you've suffered trauma, if that's not dealt with immediately, that then kind of feeds into the way you see things, the way you see lives and, in the worst case scenario, you have people then to go on and harm because that's what they've experienced as a child," she said.
During her career working with children affected by sexual abuse, Debbie has seen first-hand how it can impact a young person.
She said the child could be triggered by textures, which would cause an emotional and high anxiety response.
'Doors could close'
Debbie told us that funding is "challenging and quite sporadic" and that organisations like hers are having to make resources go further and further.
She said the cost-of-living crisis and the increased contributions to National insurance from employers are having a big impact on service sustainability.
The charity has seen over 200 referrals since the start of the year.
Debbie said: "We're constantly always kind of stretching our budgets and stretching money as thin as we can to be able to provide as much support for as many as people as we can.
"And that really needs to be addressed, that there's real sustainable funding to be able to keep staff."
She said she feared services, may be forced to close without it.
Debbie said: "What we're hearing from people is that often there is no other support out there, so it is a real concern about what's going to happen because we will start seeing services such as FearFree and other charities close if we're not receiving the appropriate levels of funding to need to keep our doors open."
In April 2025, Under Secretary of State, Jess Phillips MP, pledged to double funding for national services supporting child sex abuse survivors.
We've contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment.