What is National Child Exploitation Awareness Day 2021?
The National Child Exploitation Awareness Day aims to highlight the issues surrounding Child Exploitation; encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to adults developing inappropriate relationships with children or children exploiting and abusing their peers. The annual campaign is coordinated by NWG Stop CSE and this year takes place on 18th March 2021.
Child exploitation is when an abuser takes advantage of a young person for their own personal gain. This can take many forms, including child sexual exploitation (CSE) or forcing the child to commit crime. The most common form of criminal exploitation is when a child is forced to sell drugs for an older person. They are often sold a dream of cash, designer goods and a sense of belonging, but the reality is very different. They end up dirty, hungry and risking their life. Some of this activity takes the form of county lines dealing, which is where people travel from large cities such as London to sell drugs in new areas. CSE is where a young person is abused by an older person they may initially see as their boyfriend. Perpetrators regularly buy the child gifts and trick them into believing they are in a loving relationship before abusing them.
Finding out more about Child Exploitation
Thousands of children in the UK are at risk of being forced or manipulated into sexual activity in a form of abuse called child sexual exploitation. This abuse can happen to any child, anywhere. Knowing what to look for is an important way you can help to protect the children and young people around you. Through local and national organisations you can access child exploitation and safeguarding training to help you spot the signs of abuse around you and find out what support is available to protect children and young people.
Children’s Society
The Children’s Society provides specialist support that empowers young people to make positive changes and rediscover their hope. Working alongside young people, their families and community, we will not rest until together, step-by-step, they’ve created a society built for all children. Through their website you can find out about spotting the signs of exploitation and what to do if you spot them, click here to find out more.
PACE – Parents Against Child Exploitation
PACE supports parents and carers whose children are being exploited by offenders outside of the family. They aim to:
- Enable parents and carers to safeguard and stop their children being exploited.
- Provide evidence and specialist advice in order to demonstrate to partners that parents and carers have an essential safeguarding role.
- Work with parents and partners to disrupt and bring perpetrators to justice.
- Sustain long term change by training partners in the active role of parents and carers safeguarding their children
Through their website you can access information on exploitation and what you can do as a parent to spot the signs, protect children and young people from exploitation and access support if they are being exploited. Click here to find out more.
PACE also offers training to professionals supporting children and young people, click here to find out about their training.
Training for those in Sunderland
Professionals working with children and young people can access child exploitation, and other safeguarding training, through Sunderland Safeguarding Children’s Partnership. Click here to find out more.
Training for those in South Tyneside
Professionals working with children and young people can access child exploitation, and other safeguarding training, through South Tyneside Safeguarding Children Partnership. Click here to find out more. They are also providing a free one hour Exploitation Awareness Sessions for professionals, parents and carers on National Child Exploitation Awareness Day 2021 (21/3/2021) at 10am and 1.30pm which you can access through: meet.google.com/pos-zdnh-iic.
Reporting Child Exploitation in Sunderland and South Tyneside
Call the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency
You can also report to the police online. Only report your concerns when it is safe for you to do so, even if this is after the event that your concerns initially arose. Do not attempt to intervene yourself.
Text the British Transport Police on 61016
If you are on a train, you can text the British Transport Police. Information on routes of travel, addresses, appearance, and behaviour of a child can all help to protect young people.
Safeguarding Partnerships
Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships are multi-agency partnership which brings together agencies who work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people across communities. If you have a concern about the safety of a child or young person then you should talk to someone immediately:
- In Sunderland, you can contact Together for Children on 0191 5205560 (available 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday – Thursday, 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday);
or the Out of Hours Team on 0191 520 5552 (also available 24 hours Saturday and Sunday) - In South Tyneside, you can call Children and Families Social Care on: 0191 424 5010 (Monday to Thursday – 8.30am to 5pm, Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm);
or 0191 456 2093 (Outside of the above time)
Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
If you have information on child exploitation and abuse or suspect it may be happening but want to remain completely anonymous, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online or on the phone.
Call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000
The NSPCC helpline is staffed by trained professionals who can provide expert advice and support if you’re concerned about a child.
