Into the Lighthouse: the UK’s first safe space for child sexual abuse victims

Radical one-stop shop aims to provide care and support to traumatised children

Tucked behind a busy north London road, the UK's first "safe space" for child sexual abuse victims is an oasis of calm. Set over two floors, the building is airy and light.

The toxic legacy of child abuse gets minimal attention, yet the problem amounts to a public health challenge, say experts. Although we don't know exactly how many children in the UK experience sexual abuse as it's hidden from view, research suggests one in 20 children have been sexually abused, yet many more incidents go undetected, unreported and untreated.