THE chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse will visit York today to raise awareness of a project giving victims and survivors the chance to share their experiences.

Professor Alexis Jay will meet more than 80 delegates from organisations from across the north-east, including the police, NHS, local authorities and charities, at a meeting being held at the Principal Hotel near York railway station.

She will talk about the ‘Truth Project’, which gives victims and survivors of child sexual abuse the chance to share their experiences and offer suggestions to the inquiry on how to keep the next generation safe.

She will say she wants to collaborate with organisations that have local expertise working with victims and survivors, said a spokeswoman.

“The north east was one of the first regions to open the Truth Project in June 2016,” she said. “So far, over 700 people have now come forward across England and Wales and the inquiry has taken accounts from victims and survivors in the north west, Wales, the south west and London.

“In October, the inquiry will hold a public lecture and publish a report on the voices of victims and survivors from the Truth Project.”

Professor Jay, who led the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham, which found at least 1,400 children had been sexually exploited, said: “It is a privilege to meet so many organisations in York today that share our goal of tackling the appalling crime of child sexual abuse.

“The Truth Project is open in the north east and we are ready to listen to victims and survivors whoever they are, wherever they are.

“We do not underestimate the courage it takes to come forward but we would encourage victims and survivors to help us learn from the experiences of the past.”

Daniel Wolstencroft, a member of the Victims and Survivors Consultative Panel, said he could assure people that if they met with the Truth Project, they would be treated with dignity and respect, and listened to.