In 2007, as part of the Government’s Victims of Violence and Abuse Prevention Programme, we will be publishing National Service Guidelines on effective interventions to support child victims of sexual abuse and adult survivors of child sexual abuse. This builds on investment of £12 million this year in developing services for safeguarding children from abuse, including the continuing development of Sexual Assault Referral Centres for children.
This year we have also invested £1.25 million through the Victims Fund in voluntary and community services for victims of sexual violence and abuse, including services for children, and for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. At a local level, the co-ordination of work to safeguard children is the responsibility of Local Safeguarding Children Boards, which have been established in every local authority area. The provision of mental health services for children is the responsibility of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.