Salma Lyons, a 26-year-old teacher, knows only too well how distressing it is to be a victim of a serious crime: "When I was ten, I was sexually abused over a period of three months by a trusted family friend."

Salma kept the rapes, and her intense emotions, a secret for ten years: "Initially it was very difficult. I suffered from depression, but I am now on the road to recovery."

The case eventually came to court and Victim Support helped Salma through this traumatic time: "Not only were the volunteers supportive and non-judgemental, but they helped me in a way that family and friends couldn't, as they were knowledgeable about court procedures and explained to me how everything was going to take place. They also provided a quiet, separate room I could wait in, which gave me the privacy I really needed." Salma adds: "I had heard of Victim Support beforehand, but the truth is I didn’t know how they actually worked. For that entire year they were there for me and I have enormous praise for them. They really couldn't have done more for me as I went through this painful process."