A Totnes-based charity that works with communities to prevent child abuse has secured a generous £79,000 Lotto windfall.

Child Assault Prevention (CAP-UK) which has worked with school communities in Devon for 26 years, has received the grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.

The money will ensure the charity keeps delivering an essential service to build safer communities for thousands of children.

CAP-UK’s chief executive, Kate Shillaker, said: “We are delighted the National Lottery is supporting our work with communities to protect children from abuse.

“We believe that every child should receive preventative education, to be taught their rights and how to recognise unsafe situations, to have strategies to keep safe and the confidence to speak out.

“This funding will make a huge difference to the numbers of children we can reach.

“It is a very sad fact that children of all ages are facing a multitude of barriers to their wellbeing.

“The statistics of online abuse, bullying, sexual abuse by peers or in the home are distressing, and the vulnerability of many children has been heightened by the pandemic.

“Our work in schools tackles these difficult subjects head-on with the aim of reducing vulnerability of all children without raising fear.

“Everyone at CAP-UK is very grateful to the National Lottery for enabling us to keep delivering our service within communities at a time when it is most needed.”

CAP-UK reaches thousands of children and hundreds of adults across Devon each year.

Despite all the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic including school closures and restrictions, the team of 16 staff continued to deliver their service to children via online films and assemblies. 

As soon as face-to-face work could resume, the charity adapted workshops and used PPE to keep everyone safe.

In the last year, CAP-UK delivered its programme to 13,000 children across 70 Devon schools.

Thanks to the Lotto grant, the charity is now looking forward to the year ahead knowing it can continue working closely with school communities in Exeter, Torbay, Teignbridge, South Hams and Plymouth.

The vital funding will also enable CAP-UK to employ a development manager - a new role to support the charity’s sustainability and growth.

For more information visit www.safestrongfree.org.uk/news