A child sexual abuse survivor is organising a charity event to raise money for the children’s charity, the NSPCC.
Chloe Cuthill has arranged for a musical gala to be held at The Bedford in Balham on Sunday, September 1st.
The gala will be held in the Club Room with several singers performing musical delights from West End shows such as, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Matilda, The Choir of Man and many more.
Students from the GSA Conservatoire and Laine Theatre Arts will also be singing to the audience in the venue, where the likes of Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and Michael McIntyre have performed.
Raising vital funds for the NSPCC, tickets start from £24 for a standing ticket and £35 for a seated one. Every pound that is raised from the ticket sales, will go towards helping NSPCC services. This includes the NSPCC Helpline, which is available for any adult that is concerned about a child and is there to listen to anyone who has experienced abuse as a child.
Chloe, who is also a Community Fundraising Manager for the NSPCC, knows first hand the vital work that the charity does, not only on a professional level, but a personal one too.
Chloe was groomed and sexually abused as a child by a taxi driver who would take her to and from school and dancing lessons. She contacted the NSPCC Helpline after seeing a programme about sexual abuse survivors.
After initially thinking that she was too old to call the Helpline, she looked at the NSPCC website and realised that it was for everyone.
She said: “I called the Helpline and spoke to a practitioner for about an hour. He was really understanding and took the time to listen to me. I felt comfortable talking to him, and most importantly I felt believed.
“He made me feel like what I was saying was important and that my story mattered. I was also anxious that because my abuse happened so long ago, it wouldn’t be relevant today – but he reassured me that it definitely did matter and was just as serious today as it was when it happened.”
Chloe continues: “This is why I am proud to work for the NSPCC and work with an amazing group of people who provide support to everyone who has experienced abuse or neglect.
“We are really looking forward to seeing everyone for a night of great performances.”
