The NSPCC's base in Carlisle today was filled with balloons, laughter and birthday cake. There was good reason too.

The charity was celebrating the 30th anniversary of it setting up in its Chatsworth Square home where it has supported thousands of youngsters.

Staff, volunteers and local dignitaries were in attendance to celebrate the good work they do and continue to do.

One of those there to join in was Amanda Baillie, from Carlisle. When she was a child she went through some tough times and yearned for support - like the NSPCC offers now.

However, she wasn't able to access such a service in her youth and is now supporting Cumbria's NSPCC branch - and speaking out about her experiences - in a bid to raise funds and awareness about the vital work they do.

Here, in her own words, she tells her story:

"Most people have fond memories of their childhoods but I lost mine to sexual abuse.

"My mum started to send me to a friend of the family while she was busy and I enjoyed spending time with him. I was only three and I liked that he paid me lots of attention.

"It wasn’t long before he started to sexually abuse me. I was so young that I didn’t know any different and I thought that it happened to everyone but it confused me as he said it was our secret.

"Because he showered me with affection, he made me feel special. It carried on until I was eight and someone started to have suspicions about what was happening.

"She said that she was going to tell the police but he committed suicide before the police became involved.

"I was still shaken up by that when my mum began leaving me with someone else. I knew by this point that the abuse was wrong and I hated it.

"I think the man knew about the other abuse but told me that if l spoke out again no-one would believe me. I’d been caught stealing food as I wasn’t given enough to eat and he said that people already thought that l was a thief and a liar and they would think l was lying about this too.

He said that I would lose my family.

"I was also having a hard time at school because I was never dressed very well. The kids picked up on that and I was bullied. l had no friends sol didn’t know who l could turn to.

"I wish Childline online had been about when l was younger or that the Speak Out. Stay Safe. team went into schools so I could have spoken out at a younger age.

"Instead the abuse carried on until I was 13. l’d started self-harming as a cry for help and a family friend spotted it.

"I found the courage to tell her what was happening. She supported me in telling the police but mum wouldn’t back me up and the case fell apart. It was a lot to go through without my mum’s support and I dropped out of school because of it. l wasn’t even able to do my GCSEs.

"The police didn’t refer me for any therapy and I went to the doctors for help but all they did was prescribe me Prozac.

"l’d developed an eating disorder as well because of what had happened to me but they just gave me nutritional drinks for that. lf l had been given help then things may have turned out differently but instead my life continued to go downhill.

"I was sent to stay with my mum’s sister who helped me a lot but I was still self- harming and she had a family of her own to worry about so she sent me to live with my gran.

"I was 15 and drinking too much and doing drugs to try and black out what had happened. It was my way to numb out the pain.

"I moved in with a man who was about seven or eight years older than me and I got in with a bad crowd. My life was spiralling even more out of control.

"When I turned 16 I decided I wanted to find my dad. I lived with him for a bit but the relationship broke down. Being away from the bad crowd had given me the opportunity to turn my life around though.

"l still find it hard to trust people and to build up relationships but l’ve learned how to move forward in my life in a positive way.

"It‘s a lifelong challenge that never goes away and time just teaches you to deal with it better. I have three amazing children and I get married soon and l just want to show people that you can come out of something like this the other end and still have an amazing life.

"There’s also still a taboo around sexual abuse and people would rather turn away than accept the enormity of the problem. That’s why I have decided to speak out about what happened to me and help to raise awareness and money for the NSPCC to help stop child abuse."

Amanda has decided to raise funds for the charity by completing the Cumbrian Run next month.

"Anyone who knows me well knows that l barely exercise so my decision to do the Cumbrian Run half marathon may have come as a bit of a shock but I want to do everything l can to help other children," she adds.

"The training is going really well and I find that running really helps me let go of things and clears my mind. The fact that I am doing the run to raise money to help stop abuse keeps me going even when I am finding it tough to carry on with the training."

* To sponsor Amanda's run go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/amanda-baillie

A children's charity which has helped thousands of youngsters in Cumbria through tough times has celebrated three decades of operating in Carlisle.
NSPCC Carlisle celebration

The NSPCC Cumbria branch marked the 30th anniversary of setting up in Carlisle's Chatsworth Square with a special party attended by staff, volunteers and local dignitaries.

The Carlisle Service Centre currently offers "therapeutic intervention" for children who have been sexually abused through its Letting The Future In service, protection of young people from sexual exploitation with Protect & Respect and services for young people with harmful sexual behaviour through Turn The Page.

The centre was officially opened in 1987 by HRH Princess Margaret.

As well as celebrating the work that's already gone on the charity is determined to continue its vital work and has now launched a new fundraising campaign.

The charity wants the centre to provide a safe and welcoming environment for vulnerable children and their families staff believe the site feels dated.

So they plan on changing that with the launch of the new appeal - the NSPCC’s 30 Years Together For Childhoods. It is hoped that local businesses and fundraisers will come together to revamp the tired-looking centre with a fresh coat of paint, new furniture and new toys for the children to use in their therapy sessions.

Carlisle service centre manager Iain McKay says: "It is tremendous that the NSPCC has been able to commit to Cumbria for so many years, I am so proud that all involved - be they staff or volunteers - show such dedication day in, day out.

"They make a huge difference to all our children’s lives and to the NSPCC’s fight for every childhood.”

The celebration was addressed by Peter Wanless, chief executive of NSPCC UK.

He says: "The opportunity to say thank you to these extraordinary volunteers who fund raise tirelessly who allow us to deliver this service which we wouldn't be able to do without them is wonderful.

"It's also to say thank you to the staff who do this incredibly difficult job which transforms the lives of children, it's incredible."

Mr Wanless adds that it's also a time to pause and look ahead at how to best support the charity's needs going forward.

"The need is there and the issues are urgent and we are determined to play whatever part we can," he continues.

Juliet Westoll MBE, chairman of the North Cumbria Branch fundraising committee, whose idea it was for the new fundraising appeal, says: “The atmosphere at the Carlisle centre is so warm and welcoming with the fabulous staff fully focused on the young people they help I couldn’t help but think how much better it could all be for a lick of paint.

"I hope that the people of Carlisle will get behind the launch of this new campaign through donations, both financial and practical so we can ensure that the children who are helped by the NSPCC in Cumbria over the next 30 years are helped in surroundings that make them feel safe and secure."

* To to get involved with the new fundraising campaign contact Sandra Jones, community fundraising manager for Cumbria via sandra.jones2@NSPCC.org.uk or call 0113 887 1067.