A Bodmin centre has launched the UK’s first forum app for women living with the impact of sexual and domestic abuse.

The Women’s Centre Cornwall has launched Campfire, a free online community-based forum for women.

The forum, which can be accessed via The Women’s Centre Cornwall’s website as well as through a brand new mobile app, provides “a space where women can be their authentic selves, create a network of support and feel a sense of togetherness and empowerment, intended to dilute the silencing nature of abuse”.

Statistics show five million women in England and Wales have been raped or sexually assaulted since the age of 16.

The Women’s Centre Cornwall has provided one-to-one specialist sexual and domestic abuse support to 452 women and girls across the Duchy over the last year.

Campfire has been developed to enhance The Woman’s Centre Cornwall’s existing specialist support services to women across Cornwall and offer them more choice on how to engage with other women and their organisation.

The forum was originally created in 2020 and named the Women’s Survivor Forum – a space for women to connect with each other during the pandemic.

It has now been relaunched as Campfire along with the new mobile app.

Jackie May, chief executive of The Women’s Centre Cornwall, said “In our rural county, finding accessible ways for women to meet and support each other is particularly challenging.

“We are delighted that we can now offer greater accessibility to our 400 forum members and hope that many more women will join Campfire.

“We are grateful to the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner Devon and Cornwall and Comic Relief who funded the development of the forum and to the National Lottery who have funded the app development.”