A Nottingham charity at the forefront of supporting children and young people affected by sexual or domestic abuse is calling for more trauma informed approaches across the sector.
Imara has supported thousands of children in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire over the last 15 years, achieving positive outcomes for its holistic approach that places the child’s voice at the centre.
Now it is hosting its first ever conference, ‘Bridging The Gap’, on Tuesday 25 November 2025 at Nottingham Contemporary, bringing together survivors, families and professionals, and inviting local organisations to sponsor the event as a way to fulfill their CSR goals.
In return, sponsors would be thanked during the event and receive credits on their website and social media platforms. If financial sponsorship is not possible, Imara also welcomes donations for their goody bags such as fidget toys and keyrings. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or donor should email fundraiser@imara.org.uk.
Child sexual abuse is a growing problem nationally with the vast majority of cases never being reported to the police, according to the most recent report from the Centre of Expertise on child sexual abuse. In Nottinghamshire, 9,580 children are estimated to be sexually abused each year with just 1,812 child sexual offences recorded by the police.
Now the charity is giving a platform to survivors at the conference to have their voices heard, impact on the shape of future services and inspire change. There will be panels and interactive workshops on how the criminal justice process, holistic therapy and the language of trauma impacts survivors of child sexual abuse and domestic abuse.
Imara CEO Cath Wakeman said: “It is hard enough to have to recognise that children are abused, however it is made worse when we know that they are still falling through gaps in support either because they haven’t been helped to find a way to talk about the abuse, or because those services don’t exist.
“However, it is only when we notice that we can start to do something about it. Join us in ongoing conversations about how we can best bridge the gaps that exist and make a real difference for all children affected by abuse.”
