A charity which supports children and teenagers who have experienced sexual abuse is appealing for help with fundraising.

Fresh Start – New Beginnings has been running its services for around four years in Norfolk, Suffolk, and North Essex since being launched by founder Diana Porter, who started the charity using £6,000 of her own redundancy money.

It provides one-to-one support to children, who are seen by experts such as psychologists and child support workers. Last year around 250 youngsters were referred to the charity, but with more than 70,000 child sex abuse cases being reported nationally, staff believe the demand for services is growing.

Patsy Johnson-Cisse, fundraising manager at the charity, said: 'Through our therapeutic work with the children we help them change from victims to survivors.

'It's really good to see how they first come to us and then six to eight weeks later they become the young adults they should be.'

The charity works with the police, from whom many of the children are referred. Some are as young as 18 months.

One of the fundraising campaigns the charity is running is a 'car park karaoke' in which people record themselves singing to a song on the radio in a stationary vehicle, and post it online and nominate friends to do the same, donating £5 in the process.

To donate to the charity or for more information contact Patsy Johnson on 01473 353355 or email patsy@fsnb.org.uk

Have you got a charity story? Email eleanor.pringle@archant.co.uk