Parents Against Grooming centre celebrates first birthday

The Parents Against Grooming UK centre's celebratory window art

The Parents Against Grooming UK (PAG UK) volunteer group recently celebrated the first anniversary of its walk-in centre.

The PAG UK team steadily work to give survivors of child sexual abuse a voice, and describe their hub as a place of safety.

Founder William Howarth said: “It is our hope to push on with the great work we have done in 2019 by building a bigger team to help deal with the workload.”

The walk-in centre is the latest in PAG UK’s unique way of helping those in need, following on from the group’s patrols around the borough – all in an attempt to prevent sexual attacks and grooming.

Currently, the team offers counselling referral, drug and alcohol help, suicide awareness, internet awareness and homelessness awareness.

Peer to peer sessions for male and female survivors of abuse and sexual assault are proving to be a well-utilised service, bringing people from across Lancashire.

Helpful information for those in need lines the windows of the centre: from where a hot meal can be had every day, to useful phone numbers, it is clear that the centre is there to help anyone in need – for free.

Most days, a rack brimming with thick coats stands outside, free for anyone who needs one, whilst blankets, towels and toiletries can also be provided.

Volunteer positions available include:

• Admin, retail and survivor support

DBS checks will be carried out on all volunteers.

Anyone interested should call into the PAG UK centre at 138 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, OL16 1LD and speak to the front desk.