Volunteers at a unique Bradford project which offers help to adults who have survived sexual abuse are appealing to the community to help save them from closure.

The Manningham-based Counselling and Advice for Survivors of Sexual Abuse group, which has been running for 12 years, says it offers a lifeline to adults who have never talked about their abuse or teenagers who are suffering alone.

Now, after having its funding cut, it desperately needs donations and volunteers to help keep it afloat.

Sarah Curteis, vice-chairman of CASSA, said: "We offer such an important service and it would be a terrible shame if we had to close.

"It would be a huge loss to the community and a loss nationally as we get calls from all over the country.

"There are facilities for children who are abused but as soon as they reach adulthood the provision just seems to stop. This can leave adults, some as young as 17, with literally no-one to talk to.

"We also get calls from women who have never ever addressed the sexual abuse that has happened to them years ago.

"Many block it out until something happens in their life, maybe they become a mother for the first time, and it all comes flooding back.

"We offer women long-term counselling and help and it's something that can take years. The need is phenomenal."

The group was one of hundreds of projects in the city which had their grants cut by Bradford Council and volunteers are struggling to find the cash for rent and expenses.

"We are fighting for survival and we've been out collecting in pubs to try to raise funds," said Sarah Curteis.

"Members of the management committee and the counsellors are all volunteers and it's very difficult as we've all got full-time jobs.

"Now we're hoping that some local companies will come forward and offer us donations.

"For about £600 we could keep the office running for a few months, pay for the telephone lines and help reimburse some of the volunteers travel expenses.

"We could also make use of any old office equipment such as computers, telephones or fax machines."

The group is also hoping to find more volunteers particularly women from the Asian community.

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