UPDATE: We did it!!! Fresh Start - new beginnings organised a fantastic day! We managed to come 2nd in our first 2 races, and, then, WE WON! YES - WE WON OUR FINAL RACE!!! (We were all so overwhelmed with disbelief that we ended up turning to check at the same time and tumbling into the River Orwell!!!) WHAT A DAY.....

On Saturday 1st June, whilst hopefully staying above water (!), our crew of 10 paddlers and 1 drummer will to compete in at least 3 Dragon Boat races on Ipswich Waterfront against 27 top local organisations. 

Last year we had our first attempt with no experience and hope to up our game this year!

All donations will be going directly to Fresh Start-New Beginnings: 
FSNB work throughout Suffolk and Norfolk providing unique and individually tailored therapeutic services to child victims of sexual abuse. 

Every child has the right to a childhood free from sexual abuse. 

FSNB support children and young people who have suffered sexual abuse, as well as supporting their family members, to overcome their trauma and confusion. They help them to understand what has happened, give them tools to overcome difficulties and teach them to identify their strengths and potential. These children are able to move from victim to survivor.

Fresh Start-New Beginning are currently working with around 200 children who have disclosed sexual abuse. There are at least another 50 children and families waiting for their support. Their uniquely tailored therapeutic support for 1 child and their family costs £2500.

Last year we smashed our fundraising target of £550 by raising a whopping £1,050! CAN YOU HELP US SMASH OUR TARGET AGAIN? CAN WE ALL CONTRIBUTE A LITTLE TO BE ABLE TO GET THE VITAL SUPPORT TO 1 CHILD WHO HAS SUFFERED SEXUAL ABUSE? 

You can find out more about Fresh Start-New Beginnings on their website, https://www.fsnb.org.uk/, and follow their activities on twitter, https://twitter.com/FreshStartNB, or facebook  https://www.facebook.com/freshstartnewbeginnings

Meet Ben, 

Ben was 11 years old when he first realised that he was being abused. He was sat in a sex education class and then realised what was happening to him was not normal. It had been going on for as long as he could remember by his half-brother who was several years older than him. 

Ben thought that if he let it happen to him, his brothers and sisters would not be hurt. Little did he know that is was happening to them too. 
Ben’s abuse included a lot of violence and threats. There were times that he was raped after being knocked out or raped while a 
knife was held to his neck. 

One day the abuser took Ben on a long walk which took him through fields, woods and stinging nettles. He had no idea where he was. The abuser helped Ben to climb a tree and then walked away, leaving him there, stuck up a tree, confused. He eventually found his way home. The next time that he was abused, Ben was told that the location that he was taken to would be where Ben would be killed and left should he tell anyone what was happening. This is a threat that still terrifies Ben. 
He had nightmares about what happened and nightmares about the abuser finding him and killing him. He struggled being around men and often had flashbacks about what had happened. He also blamed himself, thinking that he could have done more to protect his siblings. He was struggling with his feelings, often presenting as angry which resulted in him being excluded from school. 

Fresh Start - New Beginnings have worked with Ben for 18 months, helping him to understand his experiences, explore his feelings, manage his flashbacks and triggers and reduce his self-blame. He is now well settled in school and is doing well academically. He is managing his feelings, flashbacks and triggers in a much healthier way.