While families around the region are getting ready to celebrate the holiday season, some young residents are just learning to celebrate a life free from sexual abuse, thanks to the efforts of the Mary Manning Centre, Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Society of Greater Victoria.

B次元官网网址淲e see more than 200 children a year and, for such a small agency, thatB次元官网网址檚 a lot of children,B次元官网网址� says Sandy Bryce, executive director of the centre.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e offering these kids hope again, after something occurred that never should have happened to them.B次元官网网址�

The centre, which turned 26 this year, was picked as one of Black PressB次元官网网址� charities for the annual Pennies for Presents campaign, and remains B.C.B次元官网网址檚 largest child sexual abuse intervention program.

The Mary Manning Centre has a partnership with a victimsB次元官网网址� services workers that allows the centre to serve not just children of sexual abuse, but also domestic violence and general abuse as part of its new mandate.

B次元官网网址淲e know that domestic violence has a huge impact on children, and being able to serve these children under one umbrella means that we can reduce the trauma they have to endure further when bouncing from one agency to the next,B次元官网网址� says Bryce.

B次元官网网址淲alking through that door can be one of the hardest parts.B次元官网网址�

The centre is funded in part by the provincial government and in part by community donations, and was just awarded a 2011 Service Provider Excellence Award by the Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond Representative for Children and Youth organization.

Now, the Mary Manning Centre is seeking provincial accreditation, meaning the centre will be recognized for its level of outstanding service in the community.

Still, provincial cuts and thin donations this year have left staff and volunteers working double-time trying to secure funding, while the small Cook Street office is packed with file folders, kids toys and waiting chairs. The group is still waiting to find a permanent space big enough to serve its clientele.

B次元官网网址淭here are still so many people out there who need our services but donB次元官网网址檛 know we even exist,B次元官网网址� says Mary Manning board director Jessica Van der Veen.

B次元官网网址淲e see about 200 new clients each year, but the statistics are showing us that number should be threefold.B次元官网网址�

Despite numbers from Statistics Canada, which say one in four girls and one in six boys will experience sexual assault before age 18, getting the word out about services remains one of the centreB次元官网网址檚 biggest challenges.

The Mary Manning Centre teams up closely with the Victoria WomenB次元官网网址檚 Sexual Assault Centre, but most clientele B次元官网网址� age three to 19 B次元官网网址� come through police, Crown counsel or social services referrals, though some do come to the centre directly.

B次元官网网址淭here are still a lot of stigmas we have to deal with in 2011, but what we try to help people understand is that these kids are not damaged goods. These are our children, theyB次元官网网址檝e survived a bump in the road, and they will recover,B次元官网网址� says Van der Veen.

B次元官网网址淏ig things happen to little lives. We have to be here to help each other.B次元官网网址�

Learn more at marymanning.com.

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How you can help

B次元官网网址� Cash donations can be dropped off at Black Press head office, 818 Broughton St. and at the Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette, 117-777 Goldstream Ave. in Langford.

B次元官网网址� For a list of businesses that are accepting donations, watch for notices in the Victoria B次元官网网址 and Victoria B次元官网网址 Daily.

B次元官网网址� Schools interested in participating can call 250-381-3633 ext. 269 or email kslavin@saanichnews.com.