A British charity offering treatment to paedophiles before they become child molesters could be forced to close next month after being hit by a funding crisis". The Specialist Treatment Organisation for the Prevention of Sexual Offending, known as StopSO, is the country's only nationwide agency offering the treatment option to non-offending paedophiles. StopSO founder Juliet Grayson says her organisation is about child protection - ensuring "the attraction never becomes an action". She says working with perpetrators to reduce the amount of sexual abuse against children is more effective than "trying to constantly pick up the pieces after the abuse has happened". Ms Grayson ... said research shows most paedophiles know they are attracted to children by the time they are 20, but don't act on their urges until they are 30. "That means there is a 10-year window for society to make it safe enough for people to come forward and say, 'I know I need some help to never act on my desires and I'm asking for that help.'" Between June 2013 and October 2016, StopSO treated 425 offenders and demand is said to be increasing for their services. "If you think about the number of people who haven't been sexually abused because of that 425 people [who came forward]. It's possible that today someone isn't sexually abused because of what StopSO therapists have done," said Ms Grayson. The organisation could be forced to close its doors in early march if its appeals for donations is unsuccessful.
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