A new scheme has been launched to reach out to college and university students who've been sexually abused so they don't suffer in silence throughout their lives.

A £1.3 million package of funding secured by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin which will be shared among a number of North Wales organisations such as Domestic Abuse Safety Unit North Wales, the Sexual Abuse Recovery Centre (SARC), the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) North Wales and Gorwel.

In the case of Stepping Stones North Wales who will receive £154,000, it means they will be able to recruit two additional Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAS).

As a result, they will be launching two new projects, including the one to provide a counselling service for college and university students aged 16 or over across North Wales.

The other one is being organised in conjunction with RASASC and will provide additional practical support for survivors, including those who want to report the abuse to the police.

A report by the CSA Centre (Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse) published in June of this year that estimated that 15 per cent of girls and young women five and per cent of boys and young men in England and Wales had experienced some form of sexual abuse.

Berni Durham-Jones, the charity's Director of Services, said: "Child sexual abuse is obviously a devastating topic for people and at the moment there are about 500,000 children who are suffering from CSA in the UK.

"We have people in their 70s and 80s who phone us and have said 'I wish I'd made this phone call many years ago' but it's so difficult to pick up that phone and say that.

"The way young people are wired emotionally means that they cannot always seek help immediately, but the aim of this project is to help them reach out sooner rather than later, perhaps in their 20s instead of bottling it all up for many years."

Mr Dunbobbin said: "Sexual abuse is a serious crime that has long-lasting consequences for victims, and this is why tackling this scourge is one of my highest priorities.

"I am pleased to be able to support the vital work being done by Stepping Stones North Wales and the other organisations that are working with survivors of abuse to help them achieve a better future for themselves and their families."

Anyone who needs support across North Wales should contact:

Stepping Stones North Wales on 01978 352717 or www.steppingstonesnorthwales.co.uk