A PILOT scheme which helps sexual abuse victims with learning disabilities has been shortlisted for an award.
Newcastle City Council asked Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre to help women come to terms with their experiences.
The scheme has been nominated for the Community Care Awards 2004.
Recent research showed almost 1,400 cases a year of reported sexual abuse of people with a learning disability.
Sue Howlett, a counsello r from the centre, said: "Being shortlisted for the award proves the pilot scheme was invaluable for all those women we helped.
"Many people who have been sexually abused or raped have great difficulty finding the words to express what has happened to them and how they feel.
"This is whether they have communication difficulties or not and regardless of their intellectual ability."
The centre provides a woman-only space and a specialist counselling service. Six women have been helped.
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