VICTIMS and survivors of child sex abuse in Cornwall will have the chance to put forward recommendations for how to protect children in future as part of a national inquiry.

The Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse is set to bring The Truth Project to Cornwall next month.

Child sex abuse victims and survivors will be able to share their experiences in a supportive confidential setting and then have input into the independent inquiry.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is investigating institutional failures to protect children from sexual abuse.

Information gathered from the Truth Project sessions will give the inquiry a better picture of the past so that they can improve things for the future. More than 1,400 people have already shared their experiences with the Truth Project.

Annie Durham, deputy head of the Cornwall Truth Project, said it was an opportunity for victims and survivors to help children.

She said: “We want to meet as many victims and survivors as possible and we are hoping to go to four different locations to give as many people as possible the chance to take part.

“We offer everyone who attends support with a support worker and we make it as straight forward as possible. It is a really comfortable and supportive environment.

“They can share as little of as much as they want about their experience. We don’t investigate individual cases so it is very much their chance to talk about their own personal experiences. It gives them the opportunity to be in control.

“We are particularly interested in the institutional failings to protect children – people may have tried to disclose what was happening to them and not been listened to.

“The victims can make their recommendations for what can be done in the future to protect children and make sure they are safe.

“The thought that they might be helping to protect children in future can be very empowering for them.”

The Independent Inquiry has been taking place over several years and has already published some reports and recommendations.

A series of public hearings have also been held into the findings of the inquiry and these are set to continue until 2020.

The inquiry has had some evidence from people in Cornwall, but this will be the first time that the Truth Project has come to the county.

Annie said: “We do have offices around the country, but we recognise that it is not easy for everyone to come to us.

“We don’t go everywhere but we go where there is a demand and we had a demand to come to Cornwall and listen to people there.”

She added that the Truth Project has a robust policy around confidentiality and said that restriction orders are placed around the venues that are used for sessions.

David Poole, head of the Truth Project in Cornwall, said: “People from all walks of life experience child sexual abuse. Whoever you are, and whatever your background, the Truth Project is here to listen to you.

“The experiences victims and survivors share with the Inquiry will help us make recommendations to keep children safe in future, so that institutions and individuals can never again say, ‘We did not know’.”

The Cornwall Truth Project is set to take place in the week beginning November 19.

To find out more or to register to take part go to www.truthproject.org.uk or call the information line on 0800 917 1000 or email share@truthproject.org.uk