TRAUMATISED youngsters at Bolton’s refuge for women and children escaping domestic abuse are in urgent need of more help with therapy and counselling.

Fortalice is now trying to raise money to provide more individual specialist services for the affected young residents.

To help raise funds, a special event is being held next month at Bolton Whites Hotel to try to plug the money gap and help these children. Chief Executive, Gill Smallwood said: “In the last year, we’ve dealt with 164 children at the refuge. Most of them have seen or heard abusive episodes, often involving violence, or witnessed the aftermath of injuries to their mother and damage to their home.

“The effect on them is huge — they can be withdrawn, find it difficult to trust people, be frustrated and disruptive. They need our help, but play therapy costs £35 a session, talking therapy £25 and our Just for You sessions £22 a time. And we have a long waiting list for them.”

Mrs Smallwood added that the sad part was that the therapy made such a difference to the children. “It’s just a terrible shame that we just haven’t got the money to fund all the sessions we need.”

These are children like 12 year-old Sarah, a resident in the refuge with her mum and three younger siblings. Mrs Smallwood added: “Sarah was very withdrawn and reluctant to engage with anyone when she arrived, She had witnessed incidents of domestic abuse and social services had been involved.”

The youngster said: “It’s kind of hard to open up when you’ve always been told to ‘shut up’ or ‘you can’t tell anyone.’ But I found my counselling sessions really helpful. It took a while for me to speak about what had happened. I guess I didn’t realise how it had affected me. I used to get so frustrated with my mum. Why did she let him treat her that way? I get it now. She was scared. We were all scared. In my Just for You sessions I felt safe and I always felt so much better after. I started to write my feelings down and it really helped.”

The Fortalice Midsummer Fundraising Ball is on Friday, June 10 at 7.30pm in the Platinum Suite. Tickets are £45 including a three-course meal, Soul and Motown entertainment and a disco. To book call 07905 210464 or email christinemh@fortalice.co.uk