North east children who've committed harmful sexual behaviour take part in NSPCC service

New figures show that children from across the North East have benefited from a service aimed at children who’ve committed harmful sexual behaviour.

The NSPCC's Turn the Page service has dealt with 248 children in the north east. Turn the Page helps children and young people overcome feelings that have made them harm another child sexually. The charity says that through a number of different activities, children are encouraged to speak about their feelings and discuss ways to avoid this behaviour in future.

The NSPCC say the service is vital and cite research that says around one third of sexual abuse is carried out by children and young people. Children who sexually harm others have often suffered abuse and neglect themselves and they may need to share their experiences and make positive changes to their behaviour.

The figures have been released at the start of NSPCC the second annual Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week.

Patricia Buckley, NSPCC’s Newcastle Service Centre Manager said:

Turn the Page helps children and young people overcome feelings that have made them harm another child sexually. In Newcastle, 248 young people from across the North East have been helped over the past 6 years.