Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare

Denise Hubble has spent the past 10 years counselling families whose lives have been turned upside down by sexual abuse. Through Mothers of Sexually Abused Children (MOSAC), the qualified therapist, along with 42 volunteers and two other part-time members of staff, help hundreds of families each year.

MOSAC, based in Greenwich High Road, was set up in 1992 by 15 women with abused children. They turned to Greenwich Council for help and now MOSAC is one of only two organisations in England to provide such a service.

Currently 52 families are on MOSAC’s 22-week counselling programme and 178 are receiving practical advice. Twenty children have play sessions to encourage them to deal with their emotions and 500 calls are received weekly from desperate parents. The abuse can sometimes be carried out by a parent.

Denise said: “Discovering sexual abuse is devastating. We believe the abused child is best supported by giving support to the non-abusing parent dealing with the situation. Children who are supported and believed are less likely to develop mental health problems.”

The 45-year-old continued: “Abuse ranges from inappropriate touching, sex, being shown inappropriate images or being made to perform in films. There’s never a particular type who carries out the abuse.”

The centre’s national helpline, open on Mondays to Fridays, is the first port of call for those seeking support. Denise added: “People are offered a meeting to see if they should go into counselling or receive advocacy support.

“Some clients stay for a year. We don’t believe in a quick fix. Abuse affects their whole life, their employment, their friendships and their income. We help them deal with all situations.”

Despite the number of sexually abused children, only 20 per cent of cases end up in court, of which only two per cent end in a conviction. Denise said: “Often there isn’t enough evidence. Children don’t speak up until afterwards and by then a lot of the physical evidence has gone. It’s horrendous for them to know the abuser is still out there.”

MOSAC needs £70,000 a year to provide its service. Supporters include the Big Lottery Fund and Greenwich Council.