THE NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe service has been awarded £5,000 of Safer in Sussex funding from county Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne.

Throughout the academic year, specially trained volunteers visit schools across Sussex to deliver the charity’s free service which teaches children aged four to 11 about the different forms of abuse and who they can turn to for help, including Childline.

On average two children in every primary school classroom have experienced abuse or neglect.

Most children do not seek help or tell anyone what is happening until they are much older.

It aims to reach children with vital, age appropriate messages to potentially stop abuse before it occurs.

In 2016/17 the service spoke to 38,149 children and visited 135 primary schools.

The NSPCC’s schools service manager Janet Hinton said: “We are extremely grateful for the funding.

“This is vital funding for us and means we can continue to visit primary schools across Sussex to deliver these important safeguarding messages directly to children through assemblies and workshops.”

Mrs Bourne said: “This is about helping community projects make Sussex safer.”