Ref. 72603-4 Janette ChippingTHE NSPCC's headquarters in Victoria Road is a bright and happy place with toys piled in every corner and children's paintings decorating the walls.

It offers hope to thousands of Swindon children who have suffered horrific abuse at the hands of those that are supposed to care for them.

Within its walls children speak of their deepest fears and most painful memories.

But the message here is positive that if abuse is stopped early enough and if children receive the right help, they can recover.

Jeannette Chipping is children's service manager at the centre.

Children are referred there once a disclosure of abuse has been investigated by the police and social services.

There they are often encouraged to express their feelings using toys.

Jeanette explained: "Every child will have a different way of communicating about what has happened to them.

"A lot of them won't speak about it directly but they will for instance use puppets or dolls to express themselves.

"A child might use a fierce looking lion to represent the person that hurt them."

Around 1,220 calls are made to the NSPCC from Swindon this year and 95 per cent of the children they help have been sexually abused.

Although massive inroads have been made in identifying sexual abuse and providing support for victims, Jeannette admits more needs to be done.

"We still have a long way to go with children.

"It is still very difficult for them to tell.

"Sexual abuse can mess up a person's normal sexual development and their self-esteem.

"They can feel dirty and some will self-harm.

"The best thing for these children is to tell someone and to be believed by their main carer."

Jeannette and all the staff at the NSPCC believe that abuse does not have to mean the end for children. She said: "I do this job because I believe that with the right help and support children can recover from abuse.

"It's about helping them rebuild their lives and put back the pieces of the jigsaw.

"One girl I worked with was abused so badly that she was told she would never have children. Now she has a child and is expecting her second."

The NSPCC launches its campaign Tell Somebody this week. It is the latest phase of its Full Stop campaign aimed at stamping out abuse.

Tell Somebody encourages all children and young people to speak to someone they trust if they are worried about anything.

Facts about abuse

Sexual abuse rarely "just happens" according to Jeannette. There is almost always a grooming process where the abuser gradually gains the child's trust.

The NSPCC also deals with cases of physical and emotional abuse. The latter often occurs in homes where there is domestic violence. Home should be a safe place but some children are forced to watch their mother or father being regularly physically or verbally abused.

Some children will even avoid going to school because they are worried about what might happen to their mother if they are not there.

This can have a devastating effect on a child's life.

Many children who are being abused will self harm and some also feel alienated from their friends because of what they are experiencing at home. They may have difficulty concentrating at school.

The "safe carer" of a child that has suffered abuse will often suffer from strong feelings of guilt and may find it very difficult to cope with the situation. This is why the NSPCC also offers them support and there are groups of carers with similar experiences that meet at the Swindon centre.