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 Neil and I are under taking the huge challenge of running the Robin Hood half-marathon on Sunday 30 September 2018. We are doing this to raise funds to make the Children and Young People's suite, Nottingham Children's Hospital Child and Young People friendly.

The Children and Young People's suite provides holistic care to children and young people under the age of 18, from the East Midlands,  who have been sexually assaulted or abused. The majority of children and young people are referred into the service by Children's Social Care and the police. Young people over the age of 16 years can self-refer. The service has a 24 hour telephone line and a dedicated website www.emcypsas.co.uk

With their consent, children and young people referred into the service are referred on to therapeutic support and sexual health follow local to where they live. They are also referred to a Children's Independent Sexual Violence Advocate (ChISVA) for support through the legal process.

Children and young people are seen in the Children and Young People's suite if they require an examination to document injuries and/or collect forensic evidence. They will also have a holistic health assessment which will include sexual health advice and treatment e.g. emergency contraception and treatment to prevent the development of sexual infections.

The Children and Young People's suite was purpose built to comply with National standards for the collection of forensic samples after a sexual assault. The majority of the refurbishment of the suite was paid for by the Nottingham Children's Hospital Charity funds. Children, young people and their carers can spend up to 4 hours in the suite and we would like to improve their experience by making the suite's environment more child and young person friendly. We are therefore running the half-marathon to raise money with this in mind.

Children and young people sometimes have their clothes taken by police for forensic evidence, we would like to provide them with suitable clothes to go home in.