Lucy and Shelley Daldy outside the Step Up charity shop

Every week Shelley Daldy meets parents and carers dealing with the unbelievable devastation of learning their children have been sexually abused, often by a member of their own family or a close friend.

The mum-of-three and counsellor is the co-founder of Dagenham charity Step Up, one of only a handful of organisations in the UK offering emotional and practical support specifically to families dealing with the sexual abuse of a young person.

Shelley knows exactly how it feels to discover your child, the person you would do anything in your willpower to protect from harm, has been subjected to such atrocities by someone you trust.

“My world fell apart the day I found out,” explains the 49-year-old. “You never think something like that will happen to your family – but it happened to us and it was the most painful experience you can imagine.”

Fourteen years ago Shelley was at work when she received a call asking her to attend a police station. She says: “They told me that a close male friend of mine, Peter, who I’d known for years and who sometimes looked after our seven-year-old daughter Lucy, had taken inappropriate photos of her.

“Bonusprint, where he’d left them to be developed, had become suspicious and contacted police.”

Police subsequently interviewed Lucy about her relationship with Peter, but the youngster revealed nothing incriminating.

“I also spoke to her and at first she wouldn’t tell me anything either,” Shelley says. “But then one day she suddenly revealed that Peter had touched her inappropriately and that she didn’t like it.

“I was absolutely devastated and just swept her into my arms. I didn’t know what else to do at that moment. It was heartbreaking.”

‘Guilt’

At first Lucy was too terrified to speak to police as Peter had threatened to hurt the family if she spoke out, but finally the youngster agreed.

“She told them everything,” says Shelley. “It turned out he had committed a number of sexual offences against her over 18 months. He would take her to a museum, for example, where we assumed they were the whole time, and then they would go back to his house where he abused her.

“My husband and I were just astounded that someone we liked and trusted could do this and that it could happen without us knowing. We felt a huge amount of guilt for not being able to protect Lucy.”

Peter, who lived in Dagenham, was soon charged and taken to court, where he pleaded not guilty to one count of taking indecent photos and five counts of gross and indecent assault.

“Lucy was incredibly brave and spoke at the trial via video link,” Shelley explains. “In the end he was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to three years in jail, of which he served 15 months.”

Lucy, who has agreed to waive the anonymity sexual assaults victims are granted so her story can be used to raise awareness, received counselling.

Although she was initially frightened Peter would return to hurt her she gradually regained her confidence. Today, says Shelley, her daughter is “a full of life, happy and independent 22-year-old” who has moved on from the abuse.

“She is happy to talk about it to help other families dealing with similar ordeals, however she doesn’t let it define who she is,” Shelley says.

In 2003 Shelley, who lives in Hainault, co-founded Step Up in Rainham Road South.

She says: “My husband and I found the whole experience very difficult to deal with and there was virtually no support available for parents and carers of abused children at the time.

“I fell into depression for many years as a result and I know many other parents have struggled.

“As a result a friend and I decided to set up our own charity. Hopefully we’ve been able to alleviate some of the pain many families feel, even if we can’t make it go away completely.

“Just having someone who understands and can empathise can make such a difference. I know it would have helped me.”

■ Peter’s name has been changed.

What does the charity offer?

* One-to-one emotional and practical support to parents and carers of children who have been sexually abused or raped.

* Play therapy to children who have been sexually abused.

* Drop in peer support group sessions, where children and their families can meet others who have been through similar experiences.

* Family outings

* Telephone support

* Awareness workshops for secondary schools. The charity currently works in Redbridge but hopes to work in Barking and Dagenham schools soon.

* The organisation has two counsellors and one independent sexual violence adviser. Last year it helped 41 Barking and Dagenham families.

* Step Up is also a charity shop, which means residents can visit the organisation discreetly.

For more information call 020 8517 5888.