TWO pioneering Gwent schemes are making significant strides in tackling the "hidden problem" of child sex abuse.

To mark Children's Day, the NSPCC held a series of events around the country and in Newport.

In Newport, a training workshop was held for child protection professionals at the city's Velodrome.

Kevin Gibbs, the organisation's area children's services manager, said a whole range of services were available in the area.

"The really positive thing is that we have two groundbreaking schemes based in Gwent."

One project works with children and young people who have sexually harmed others. It has been running since 1999 and is the only one in Wales.

Mr Gibbs said statistically the largest group of people involved in such behaviour were 13 to 15-year-olds.

"The great majority of young people who do come to the attention of people like the police, social services and those in education, really need guidance and maybe some treatment. It is all about healthy relationships."

He added that it had been shown that early intervention was successful. The service had worked with 135 young people and none had repeated this behaviour or carried it into adulthood.

"We are keen to recognise these are children themselves," said Mr Gibbs. "The idea is to prevent young people becoming sexual offenders in the future."

The other scheme - Pathways - works with adult sexual abusers. "People are becoming more aware of sexual abuse but unfortunately the conviction rate is still very low as children still find it hard to tell even with all the work we do. It is still a hidden problem.

"About a year ago we realised we wanted to do something that no one else was doing, working with unconvicted men who could be a risk to children and also with their partners and, if appropriate, with their children."

Mr Gibbs said a lot of men were contacting the service either directly or though their solicitors.

It is the only service of its type in Wales and works with 30 to 40 families a year, mostly in Gwent.

He said the training day was an opportunity for professionals to share knowledge so children in Wales could be better protected.