THE Coalfields Regeneration Trust has this week given their backing to Open Secret – a charity which offers counselling and support to survivors of childhood abuse and trauma.

Having received a cheque for £2821, the organisation will now look to recruit a dedicated volunteer co-ordinator at their Alloa office.

The charity offers counselling, advocacy, support, art and play therapy and moving on support to around 120 victims of abuse in Clackmannanshire.

Specialist support is available for clients who were raised in social care and for the children and families of prisoners.

The Alloa office is experiencing increased demand, heightening the workload of the volunteers who answer calls and deliver services.

A dedicated volunteer co-ordinator will enable the service to ensure that no call is missed, and that resources are best used to ensure uniform delivery of service.

Furthermore, it is possible the post may be filled a former service user.

Janine Rennie, chief executive of Open Secret, said: “We are really grateful to the CRT for helping us establish this post and funding it for the next six months.

“Having someone dedicated to co-ordinating our volunteers will greatly increase our efficiency and enable us to significantly increase our Clackmannanshire services, and help more victims of abuse.”

The grant comes from the CRT's Coalfields Community Investment Fund, while additional funding will be sought to extend the post past 26 weeks.

It has been calculated that the post will impact on up to 33 additional clients with planned outcomes of measured reductions in suicide ideation, self-harming, anxiety and depression, and improvement in employment prospects.

Bob Young, Scottish trustee of the CRT, said: “This group is doing really good work with vulnerable people, most of whom are only now coming to terms with historic abuse in their lives.

“The project meets several of our key objectives including improving health and supporting and strengthening community and voluntary organisations delivering key services in mining areas. We are happy to support them."