HOPE was founded in 2003 by Pauline Carruthers who herself is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. From one small group it has grown to the significant service that it is today.  Initially the group was specifically for childhood sexual abuse survivors, but the need for services for adults 16 and over for any sexual abuse including rape soon became apparent. In January 2007 we widened our remit to include these individuals. HOPE became a registered charity in April 2007 and now supports individuals both regionally and nationally. In the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale area members have access to the many services and activities offered from the Phoenix Centre based in Scarborough. In fact due to lack of local services some individuals travel from as far afield as York and even Newcastle.  In the future we would like to offer more outreach services including local groups and home visits for those unable for various reasons to access the centre.