ORGANISATIONS across Bolton are working to prevent sexual exploitation in the borough and support victims.

Sexual exploitation of vulnerable young girls has plagued northern towns, with a number of abuse rings uncovered over the past decade.

Bolton Lads and Girls Club leaders believe that their early response helped to prevent large-scale abuse seen in places such as Rochdale and Rotherham. A number of other charities have started to operate support schemes for survivors.

Charity Urban Outreach, based in Salop Street, operates RUNA — a project working with children reported to the police as missing from home.

RUNA contributes to the Sexual Exploitation and Missing Group of the Bolton Safeguarding Children Board. The group creates action plans for children and young people who are at risk of sexual exploitation and/or go missing from home, from school and from the looked after system. Urban Outreach can be contacted on 01204385848.

READ MORE: Sexual exploitation seen in Rochdale prevented in Bolton by youth workers

The Survivors Trust also operates in Bolton, supporting the Beacon Bolton Counselling Service.

Working from a base in The Bolton Hub in Bold Street, the counselling service offers group work counselling for survivors of sexual abuse and one-to-one counselling subject to an assessment.

The service can be contacted on 01204546100 and works with male and female survivors ages 16 and above. The centre is open weekdays and Saturdays.