Empowering children and families to recover from the impacts of sexual abuse.
Based in Nottingham since 2010, Imara is an independent local charity with more than eight years expertise providing early intervention services for children, young people and their families following a disclosure or discovery of sexual abuse. We provide a holistic range of services as we work to help each young person overcome the trauma of child sexual abuse. This includes creative therapies, practical advocacy and consistent and sensitive support throughout the criminal justice process and for as long as is needed to help them achieve a quality of life, free from further abuse and suffering. We aim to empower those affected by abuse to promote their recovery and, wherever appropriate and safe, work with children within their family unit as a source of strength, stability and necessary care, as well as recognising the outward ripples of trauma and abuse on others in the family and home. Demand for Imara's service has grown over the years; in 2018 we worked with 494 individuals.
Why the community needs usImara provides vital support to children, young people and families. We wish that all children and young people had the kind of happy childhood that meant that our service wasn't necessary, but current statistics suggest that anything from 1 in 20, to 1 in 4, children experience child sexual abuse. Evidence shows this has significant implications for their mental and physical health, development and life chances, including their vulnerability to further harm.
Our impact on the communityClients say that the service helps them to understand the feelings they experience after abuse and that it makes a difference to their recovery. "Imara have gone above and beyond when helping myself and my family…They've always been a shoulder to cry on. I don't know where I'd be without their support." - Young person. "The service is fantastic. People with trauma need these people and they deserve every penny they get" - Family member. "Imara saved us, it's as simple as that" - Parent.
Imara are always looking for volunteers who could help us with fundraising activities and events. If you are interested in helping us please email us at info@imara.org.uk.
