Truro-based CLEAR, which works with children under the age of 11 who have witnesses or experienced abuse, has been awarded £40,120 by BBC Children in Need.

The news means that the charity now funds 21 projects across Cornwall with over £1million hard at work to benefit young lives in the area. Since 2012, the group has benefitted from more than £80,000 in grants to deliver therapeutic sessions that help children impacted by violence feel safer. In the next year, this latest boost will help cover sessional staff who can facilitate one to one, age-appropriate counselling to match the needs of each individual child.

Activities at the project can take place indoors and may involve varying forms of intervention such as sand tray work, play, narrative, music and art, drama therapies and life-story work. Sessions that promote discussion can also take place outdoors; for example, in the park or during a long walk on the beach, as needed by the child. No matter the location, each session provides the child with an opportunity to share his or her experiences, in order to begin healing from them.

Simon Carpenter, chief executive officer at the project, said: “Amongst the most important things we can provide children who have experienced abuse are the time and space to come to terms with it. With this funding from BBC Children in Need we can provide each child with support from a trusting and trained professional in a confidential environment where they will not be judged by their experiences.”

Juliet Williams, BBC Children in Need regional officer of the South and West, said: “We are incredibly pleased to award a grant to CLEAR for their work, and cannot wait to see the difference that the funding will make to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in Truro. Of course, none of our grants would be possible without the continued support of our fundraisers and everyone who donates to the charity each year. Thanks to your generosity, children and young people all over the UK will have a brighter future."

The charity funds two types of grants, both of which are open to new applicants. Projects working with children and young people facing any kind of disadvantage can find out more on how to apply for funding at bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants. The next deadline for the small grants programme is September 1, and the deadline for the main grants programme is September 15.