Independent charity Imara launches Imara Impact Fund to raise £250,000 to continue its work

An independent charity has launched a campaign to raise £250,000 to carry on its work in helping children recover from abuse.

Imara has helped over 2,200 children and young people and more than 1,500 families across Nottinghamshire on their recovery journey since it began in 2011.

The charity is now saying it will be forced to turn away those who need support after experiencing sexual abuse unless it can raise the vital funds it needs each year.

They have launched the Imara Impact Fund to raise £250,000 each year to enable their work to continue.

Imara chief executive Cath Wakeman OBE said: “The reality is that there is insufficient funding for therapy services for children affected by abuse so there is a limit to the length of support we are able to offer, although these children may have complex needs.

“This leads to children who need longer-term support being turned away before they are ready for the support to end. Imara does what it can to be flexible and respond to the need, but we don’t have enough funding to do that in every case.

"Our vision is for children to receive the support they need, and this support has to be trauma responsive, available when they are ready and for as long as they need. Without the Imara Impact Fund, this is not possible and society as a whole fails our most vulnerable children and families.

“Often survivors of abuse need time to build trust allowing them to process their experiences at their own pace, without being judged.

“Our survivors tell us that receiving the equivalent of less than one day of therapy isn’t adequate to heal a lifetime of abuse and trauma. Research shows support for families is also crucial, but the current available funding isn’t sufficient.

“The Imara Impact Fund will enable us to continue to take a best practice holistic approach to supporting our clients for as long as they need.”

People interested in donating to the charity can find out more on the Imara Impact Fund website.

The charity also provides creative therapy to children and their families, educates and trains professionals to understand trauma, supports safe family members who may have experienced abuse and ensures young people are not mislabelled with behavioural issues.

Imara plays a vital role in training professionals including teachers, social workers, police and foster carers in understanding and responding to child sexual abuse and offers placements to creative therapy and social work students.

Testimonials from police officers praise the role the charity plays in supporting young people through the criminal justice process.

From their base in Nottingham, Imara invites children and young people into safe therapeutic spaces where they can meet with a qualified professional to receive support through creative methods like messy play, writing, storytelling and art.

Creative arts therapists also use dance, movement or music therapy in dedicated therapy rooms to improve emotional, cognitive, physical, and social needs.