Sexual abuse: Thinking the unthinkable

One In Four is well known for working with victims of sexual abuse. So many are shocked to learn it also reaches out to people who ‘exhibit sexually harmful behaviour towards children’. Caroline O’Doherty discovers how it’s all part of the work to protect all our children.

When staff at the One in Four charity for victims of sexual abuse first heard they were taking on a new kind of client, some objected so strongly that management had to rent a separate premises to carry out the work.

That was nine years ago, when the thoughts of helping abusers was a step too far for people who spent most of their time surrounded by the shattered pieces of victims’ lives.