Picture caption, Charlotte Robinson was abused by her step-grandfather from the age of fiveArticle informationAuthor, Garry OwenRole, BBC News26 March 2024Updated 2 hours agoA lady who was abused from the age of 5 by her step-grandfather is looking for extra specialist help for victims of sexual abuse.Charlotte Robinson, 26, waived her proper to anonymity to name for assist and counselling to be made obtainable to victims when and the place it’s wanted, after she confronted a protracted look ahead to remedy.Ms Robinson, from Carmarthenshire, reported Raymond Hodges to police in 2016 and, the next yr, the 71-year-old was jailed for 25 years for quite a few offences.The Welsh authorities says it has established the Wales Sexual Assault Providers Programme to enhance companies.’I nonetheless endure with flashbacks’Picture supply, Charlotte RobinsonImage caption, Charlotte solely began speaking in regards to the abuse when she left dwelling at 16“It was sexual, emotional and bodily abuse,” stated Charlotte. “It began not so unhealthy however after I obtained to about seven it actually ramped up and there was a variety of bodily abuse largely from 9, sexual abuse all through.”“At 15, simply earlier than I used to be 16, I managed to depart dwelling and that’s after I began to speak about what was happening with me and what had occurred.”Describing the system as a “postcode lottery”, Charlotte stated the assistance obtainable trusted the place you reside.”Submit-trial I managed to get a little bit little bit of counselling for just a few weeks after which it type of simply tapered off.”She stated she had moved dwelling just a few instances through the years however there was no supply of “correct remedy… for the flashbacks or the post-traumatic stress dysfunction signs” the abuse had brought on.“The NHS have solely referred me to a counselling session and there’d be an 18 month ready checklist.”“There wasn’t sufficient help for what I wanted.”’Laborious to navigate every day life’4 years in the past, Ms Robinson contacted the psychological well being help group Shadows within the Amman Valley, which she says saved her life.”I’ve managed to get on correct remedy which I used to be by no means provided earlier than,” she stated.She was referred to a neighborhood psychological well being scheme and was provided remedy.“I’m on a ready checklist but it surely’s been about three years (in August) for IPTS which is specialist remedy for trauma and I nonetheless endure with flashbacks.“I get up in sizzling flushes and sweating. It’s laborious to navigate every day life.“I’m now about to begin compassionate focus remedy, which is a 10-week course to tide me over the ready checklist time.”Picture caption, Johanna Robinson agrees that ready lists “are dangerous” Ms Robinson’s story is just not unusual, based on Johanna Robinson, the Welsh authorities’s nationwide adviser on violence in opposition to ladies and home abuse.She says the scenario “impairs individuals’s restoration” and all people ought to obtain the “help they want, as quickly and so long as they want, once they want”.”And in the event that they don’t need it for a little bit bit that they’ll return to it once they do,” she stated.However Johanna Robinson acknowledged there may be additionally a query of funding in order that the issues that “ought to” occur are turned in to actuality.”Who’s going to pay for it?” she stated.”There’s an funding in companies, sadly what we now have is that the demand is greater than that funding.”She acknowledges that the “ready lists are dangerous” and “we have to discover methods to deal with that”.That decision is echoed by Sarah Thomas, head of sexual assault companies at New Pathways, Wales’ largest counselling and advocacy service for individuals who have been affected by rape or sexual abuse.Picture caption, Sarah Thomas says some methods to deal with the lengthy waits “will be damaging” “Individuals want the proper specialist counselling at a time that’s proper for them fairly than having to take a seat on ready lists, which is what individuals are doing and that isn’t acceptable,” Ms Thomas stated.“Individuals begin to adapt and discover coping methods and sadly a few of these coping methods will be damaging. “Individuals sitting on ready lists can really feel forgotten, really feel that they aren’t essential sufficient.”In order an organisation we’ve been taking a look at numerous methods during which we will enhance the experiences of victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse in order that they do have help while they’re ready.”A Welsh authorities spokesperson stated well being boards are liable for offering applicable psychological well being help. “We have now established the Wales Sexual Assault Providers Programme to enhance companies for survivors of sexual assault,” they stated.”We additionally fund Traumatic Stress Wales which goals to enhance the well being and wellbeing of individuals of all ages liable to growing or with post-traumatic stress dysfunction (PTSD).”In the meantime Charlotte Robinson hopes that when she finally will get specialist help it can assist her cope with the trauma from the abuse.She stated: “Flashbacks a number of instances a day and nightmares make it laborious for me to sleep typically so I want remedy to sleep.”Having help to minimise these signs from my abuse will assist me transfer ahead.”I’ve spent so lengthy simply plodding alongside from each day. I might similar to to see the larger image.”Particulars of assist and help with sexual abuse is obtainable by way of BBC Motion LineRelated web hyperlinks